Jay Z Debuts New Music Streaming Service Tidal in Most Awkward Press Conference Ever
Jay Z is entering the music streaming game via the streaming service Tidal, which he launched today along with 16 artist stakeholders including Beyonce, Rihanna, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jason Aldean, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Coldplay, and more. Many of these artists changed their Twitter pictures to a cyan-blue square in support of the #TIDALforALL hashtag for the debut.
"People are not respecting the music, and devaluing what it really means," Jay Z told Billboard. "People really feel like music is free, but will pay $6 for water. You can drink water free out of the tap and it's good water. But they're okay paying for it. It's just the mindset right now."
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Despite the fact that Jay Z is obviously paying unreal amounts of money for bottled water (seriously, somebody help him), you can subscribe to Tidal for $9.99 a month, or $19.99 for "high-definition audio." This model is in contrast to services like Spotify, which offers a $9.99 per month premium service as well as a free ad-based option. Spotify reports to have over 60 million active users worldwide including more than 15 million premium users. There is no free option for Tidal because SORRY FREELOADERS, you have to pay more for music than Jay Z pays for water.
In all seriousness, Tidal might be a really cool thing, but as for the star-studded launch, there are some things we have to comment on. Like...
How seriously they are taking themselves.
why they acting like they found the cure to cancer #TIDALforALL pic.twitter.com/ShhT0zTits
— colin (@colinxcade) March 30, 2015
Really though, watch it.
It was like Declaration of Independence 2 up in there.
"If there is something to be changed in the world then it can only happen through music, said Alicia Keys. "An overstatement? Maybe but maybe not."
Pretty bold statement from Keys, who also added, "Today is the day… that we begin that journey together. All of us as one. Signing our declaration. This is the beginning of a whole new era."
Alright then.
Why did Madonna put her leg on the desk?
What we all know about the dress code.
They said "Dress business casual." #TIDALforALL pic.twitter.com/eK7nlCZKaE
— John Boone (@jtyboone) March 30, 2015
How we know what this is really about.
when you all get together to renew your illuminati memberships pic.twitter.com/pWVgRef9qc
— Mark Sundstrom (@106th) March 30, 2015
How we just couldn't help ourselves from punning.
The exclusives will end up on the web. The Tidal-first songs will be pirated. I doubt Tidal will make waves. #TIDALforALL
— Damien (@db) March 30, 2015
How much weirder and out of place Daft Punk seems when they are essentially at a corporate launch event.
Also maybe it's just because we just watched Going Clear the Scientology documentary but something about this all reads as borderline cult-y...
I don't understand what #TIDALforALL is, but by the looks of it seems like some kind of famous musicians cult
— RachCoomber (@RachCoombz) March 30, 2015
How maybe they should have picked a better hashtag.
If #TIDALforALL was for ALL it would not cost $20 a month to subscribe. @TIDALHiFi @S_C_
— C.J. Cain (@CJCain7) March 30, 2015
To be fair, there is one thing we can't deny.
62 Grammys in one photo. #TIDALforALL pic.twitter.com/ZbkVVIHciM
— Beysus † Godga (@GagaLovesBey) March 30, 2015
How we're in this awkward limbo where we aren't really sure if this is a thing yet.
This is huge! And if it's not, they sure made it feel like it is #TIDALforALL
— NostalgicNomad (@NtandoBrown) March 30, 2015
How Tidal's Twitter feed sounds kinda like the Capitol in Hunger Games.
Together we are unstoppable. Together we are TIDAL. #TIDALforALL http://t.co/o2qx8MtWO3
— TIDAL (@TIDALHiFi) March 30, 2015
And sorry to be real with you, but...
#TIDALforALL? Nah, I'm sticking with #Spotify since I can, you know, use it for free.
— Frodo (@FrodoRimmer) March 30, 2015
Watch the whole press conference here:
So what do you think -- are you going to surf the Tidal wave, or jump ship? We're sorry. Jay Z please pay less for water.
Now, please allow a younger Jay Z to reintroduce himself in this flashback video.
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