Tidal launches free music tier
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Tidal announced a few major changes to its music streaming plans in an attempt to attract more customers. The most important part of today’s announcement is the launch of Tidal Free, a new plan that is exclusive to the United States.
According to Tidal, customers who opt for the free music tier will be able to access its entire music catalog and playlists, “with limited interruptions.” It’s also important to add that streaming quality won’t exceed 160kbps.
Meanwhile, Tidal’s standard plan is getting a few improvements. For example, for the same $10 monthly fee, subscribers will get lossless and high-resolution audio. Also, the Tidal HiFi plan now offers improved music quality (up to 1411kbps), offline support, as well as access to features like Tidal Connect and My Activity.
Finally, Tidal introduces a more expensive subscription plan called HiFi Plus, which promises to offer “best-in-class immersive sound formats” such as Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Audio tracks. For only $20, customers will also have access to Tidal’s MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) recordings.
Questions & Answers
Q.Is the new free music tier available to listeners outside of the United States?
Is the new free music tier available to listeners outside of the United States?
No, the Tidal Free plan is exclusively available in the United States. The article states that this new tier is a US-only offering designed to attract new customers to the service.
Q.What is the maximum audio quality for those using the new free Tidal service?
What is the maximum audio quality for those using the new free Tidal service?
Customers on the Tidal Free tier will have their streaming quality capped at 160kbps. This is a limitation mentioned alongside access to the full music catalogue and playlists.
Q.What new audio features are included in the more expensive HiFi Plus subscription plan?
What new audio features are included in the more expensive HiFi Plus subscription plan?
The HiFi Plus plan offers "best-in-class immersive sound formats" like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Audio. Subscribers also gain access to MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) recordings for $20 a month.
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