Aspiro, a Swedish technology firm, found itself on the brink of bankruptcy in 2015. Its music streaming service, WiMP, was struggling against competition such as Spotify and Apple Music. Enter Jay Z, American rapper and entrepreneur, who purchased Aspiro for $56 million, rebranding WiMP as Tidal.
Tidal positioned itself as the music service for artists, promising better pay rates than its rivals. It also offered exclusive content and high-definition music videos to differentiate itself. Despite these unique selling points, Tidal faced criticism for its high subscription price and lack of a free tier.
The company also faced internal struggles, with three CEOs stepping down within a year of Jay Z’s purchase. Meanwhile, competitors like Spotify continued to dominate the market. Tidal’s user numbers remained relatively low, and it faced a lawsuit over royalty payments.
Despite these challenges, Tidal has shown resilience. It has secured exclusive releases from big-name artists like Beyoncé and Kanye West, and it remains the only service offering lossless audio quality. The company’s future remains uncertain, but it has demonstrated an ability to survive in a highly competitive market.
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