Prince's streaming music catalog now only on Tidal, Google All Access, absent from Apple Music [u]

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited July 2015
Although Prince's music is missing from major on-demand streaming services including Apple Music, Rdio, and Spotify, the pop artist's catalog is on at least two of them -- Tidal and Google Play Music All Access, according to reports. [Updated]




So far Prince's publisher has not offered an explanation about Tidal, Billboard said. As a result it's unclear if Prince is in a specific contract deal or simply prefers that service's terms.

Although Apple is believed to be offering rights holders royalty terms equal or better than its main rival, Spotify, Tidal has made high royalties one of its main marketing points, arguing that artists deserve to be paid properly. The music industry as a whole has been shifting from CDs and downloads to streaming subscriptions, forcing musicians to adapt to new ways of making money.

Partly because of financial arrangements and its owner, rapper Jay-Z, Tidal has been able to secure a variety of exclusive releases. Apple, too, has scored some exclusives, such as Taylor Swift's 1989 album, and the Pharrell Williams single "Freedom." Spotify's offerings have included things like original running music and its regular Spotify Sessions with major acts.

Prince has been generally resistant to digital music, arguing that it doesn't sound as good to him. Listeners can buy Prince tracks from places such as the iTunes Store, but some albums have been distributed through unconventional means like newspapers, and his team has sought to pull almost all YouTube videos with his music, even clips where songs are only on in the background.

Another exception to his digital support is Soundcloud, where Prince has posted four tracks in the last month.

Update: Prince's music is not only on Tidal but also on Google Play Music All Access. Google has not received a request to pull the catalog, unlike Spotify, the company told TechCrunch.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 49
    waiting for a troll to say Apple started this "exclusive" trend in streaming...
  • Reply 2 of 49
    sricesrice Posts: 120member
    Tidal will be an interesting study in the economic price/demand chart.

    Which will be bigger?
    Tidal ( higher Price * less Demand ) vs Apple Beats1 ( lower Price * more Demand)

    I'm going with more Demand for 100 Alex.
  • Reply 3 of 49
    krreagankrreagan Posts: 218member
    Prince?!?!?! who GIS?

    It's not like this is 1999.
  • Reply 4 of 49
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,382member

    What a disaster. Or, it would be if this was 1995. 

  • Reply 5 of 49

    Although Apple is believed to be offering rights holders <A href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/06/22/apple-will-now-pay-rights-holders-during-apple-music-trial-period-eddy-cue-says">royalty terms</a> equal or better than its main rival, Spotify, Tidal has made high royalties one of its main marketing points, arguing that artists deserve to be paid properly. The music industry as a whole has been shifting from CDs and downloads to streaming subscriptions, forcing musicians to adapt to new ways of making money.

    I know I'm being somewhat critical but I believe the bolded is a poor choice of words. I think it would have been better suited to state "forcing musicians to adapt to new ways of being compensated for their work."

    Just my 2¢
  • Reply 6 of 49
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Interesting Tidal is basically doing what Apple did for publishers with the iBookstore, but $1 says no Cote or Bromwich will be knocking on their door.
  • Reply 7 of 49
    paxmanpaxman Posts: 4,729member
    sog35 wrote: »
    Who. Cares.
    Prince is pretty big. Ideally you want all the 'greats', whether you like them or not.
  • Reply 8 of 49
    monstrositymonstrosity Posts: 2,234member

    Music to my ears. I hate that creepy guy.

  • Reply 9 of 49
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 1,999member

    I grew up in the "Prince" era, and had the _Purple_Rain_ album on vinyl.   Not such a big fan.   However, I saw some more recent live footage of him playing guitar, and darn, he was good.  Really good.

  • Reply 10 of 49
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 1,999member

    I have no desire for Apple Music, and won't be updating iOS/iTunes on Mac for a while in any case while people shake out the bugs, but I am interested if someone in the US who has Apple Music if "Baby Metal" is available to stream...  

     

    I don't listen a lot to "Metal" in any sub-genre, usually, but that is the exception, for small amounts of time a day...

  • Reply 11 of 49
    FYI to the writer of the Article, Prince's music is still on Google Music as well, so it's not just exclusive to Tidal.
  • Reply 12 of 49

    Does he go by Prince again?

  • Reply 13 of 49
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sog35 View Post

     

    Who. Cares.


    No. Prince. AppleMusic. is. DOOMED.

     

    30+ million tracks is nothing without Prince.

     

    /s

  • Reply 14 of 49
    thepixeldocthepixeldoc Posts: 2,257member
    chadbag wrote: »
    I grew up in the "Prince" era, and had the _Purple_Rain_ album on vinyl.   Not such a big fan.   However, I saw some more recent live footage of him playing guitar, and darn, he was good.  Really good.

    Just FYI: Prince is a self-taught musician and can play (very well!) just about every single instrument in a "normal" pop band, including guitar, piano, percussion and even saxophone.
  • Reply 15 of 49
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,926member
    waiting for a troll to say Apple started this "exclusive" trend in streaming...

    No, trolls would say a Apple thinks it invented "exclusive" but Apple is a follower.
  • Reply 16 of 49
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 1,999member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ThePixelDoc View Post





    Just FYI: Prince is a self-taught musician and can play (very well!) just about every single instrument in a "normal" pop band, including guitar, piano, percussion and even saxophone.



    That's interesting.   I'd see him live (small venue live, not large) if I had the chance, even if I have no interest in his recordings.   The recording I saw of him recently was a small venue live gig and he was good.

  • Reply 17 of 49
    cnocbuicnocbui Posts: 3,613member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ThePixelDoc View Post





    Just FYI: Prince is a self-taught musician and can play (very well!) just about every single instrument in a "normal" pop band, including guitar, piano, percussion and even saxophone.



    He has more talent than Taylor Swift, Dr Dre and jimmy Iovine combined - several times over.

  • Reply 18 of 49
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    srice wrote: »
    Tidal will be an interesting study in the economic price/demand chart.

    Which will be bigger?
    Tidal ( higher Price * less Demand ) vs Apple Beats1 ( lower Price * more Demand)

    I'm going with more Demand for 100 Alex.

    How do you know there's more demand?
  • Reply 19 of 49
    paxmanpaxman Posts: 4,729member
    chadbag wrote: »

    That's interesting.   I'd see him live (small venue live, not large) if I had the chance, even if I have no interest in his recordings.   The recording I saw of him recently was a small venue live gig and he was good.
    I am not a massive fan but I certainly can appreciate his music and his showmanship. He is generally regarded a s a creative genius and his guitar playing is incredible. I saw him in London a long time ago and it was unbelievable. He may be weird but so what? At least he's not boring or predictable.
  • Reply 20 of 49
    matrix07matrix07 Posts: 1,993member
    chadbag wrote: »
    I have no desire for Apple Music, and won't be updating iOS/iTunes on Mac for a while in any case while people shake out the bugs, but I am interested if someone in the US who has Apple Music if "Baby Metal" is available to stream...  

    Yes, it's available. Is it good?
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