Streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify have seen significant growth in subscribers, though artists have expressed concerns about royalties. Prince recently pulled his catalog from all services except Tidal, and will release a new album exclusively on Tidal. While the author is subscribed to Spotify and Apple Music, Prince's support for artists owning their work and Tidal has them considering switching, though they prefer their current services and do not see a need yet to pay more for Tidal.

1. Streaming has been a very booming service and it’s on a wave that doesn’t look
like it’s going to be letting down anytime soon. Especially now that Apple Music has
reported that they have over 11 million trial subscribers to their now new streaming
service. Apple’s Eddy Cue has reported that actually 9 million have already subscribed
for the $9.99 service. This has caused some friction for two other streaming services,
Tidal and Spotify. Spotify currently holds first place with an impressing 75 million
unsubscribed users and 20 million subscribed users. Currently Jay-Z’s Tidal only has
770,00 users. (KingsSoFar.com)
With streaming comes the issue of royalties. One of my professor always would
say, “Don’t get played, get paid!” How will the artist get paid and how much will they
get paid? Just being able to have access for me is huge! Many artists have had it out with
streaming services, especially Spotify with how much they get paid per play on the
streaming service. So issues with contract come into play it for artist it may begin to look
like a rip off. But for the consumer like me, that is “ballin on a budget” and loves music, I
can listen to whoever’s album whenever I want, no matter how many times! I am
currently a paid subscriber to Spotify, but I am also one of Apple Music’s 11 million trial
subscribers as well and I love it! But recently, one of my favorite artist, a legend, an icon
has recently took his WHOLE catalog of music (except for one song) off of both
streaming services and others, and his name is Prince.
Prince is known to be a revolutionary all around artist for that in the past he has
protested for all artist to have creative rights within their contracts and pay rights as well.
He has always been an advocate for making the industry provides justified right for
artists. From the 90’s to now, even though the time has changed because of technology,

2. that doesn’t stop Prince. With the stripping of his catalog off of all streaming sites, except
Tidal, The Purple One has announced that he will be releasing a new album called
HITNRUN September 7th only on Tidal.
Now, I feel stuck in between the two because I am not down with Tidal. I feel that
because Jay-Z is the face of Tidal that it is too good to be true. Anything with Jay-Z’s
name on it is hyped up bigger than needed. Also I do not want to pay $20.00 a month for
a streaming service. Not just because I’m a huge Prince fan that I’m thinking about taking
a look at Tidal, but because of something he recently said at a studio session has me
thinking twice, "Jay Z spent $100 million of his own money to build his own service,”
Prince told the group. “We have to show support for artists who are trying to own things
for themselves.” (Complex Mag)
So I’m not sure if I should tough it out and stick with my subscriptions to Spotify
and Apple Music, or should I give in for The Purple One and subscribe to Tidal? I think
I’m going to wait it out. I like where I’m at and I don’t see a need (yet) to try Tidal. Of
course I believe in supporting artists, but a part of me just feels as if Jay-Z being behind
Tidal is just a nice business venture for him and not truly made for the consumer.

3. References
Prince Plots Imminent Release of New Album 'HitNRun' on Tidal. (2015, August 7).
Retrieved August 11, 2015, from http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/prince-plots-
imminent-release-of-new-album-hitnrun-on-tidal-20150807
Tracy, A. (2015, August 2). Prince Yanked His Music From Every Streaming Service
Except TIDAL. Retrieved August 11, 2015, from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/abigailtracy/2015/07/02/prince-yanked-his-music-from-
every-streaming-service-except-tidal/
Schneider, M. (2015, August 6). Apple Music Reaches 11 Million (Trial) Subscribers.
Retrieved August 11, 2015, from
http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6656564/apple-music-reaches-11-million-
trial-subscribers
Cowen, T. (2015, August 9). Prince Defends Tidal, Says Record Contracts Are "Just Like
Slavery" Retrieved August 11, 2015, from
http://www.complex.com/music/2015/08/prince-says-record-contracts-are-like-slavery
Cook, J. (2015, August 6). 11 million people have already signed up to trial Apple's
music streaming service. Retrieved August 11, 2015, from
http://www.businessinsider.com/eddy-cue-says-11-million-people-have-signed-up-to-
apple-music-2015-8
Apple Music Has Over 11Million Trial Subscribers. (2015, August 6). Retrieved August
11, 2015, from http://kingsofar.com/2015/08/06/apple-music-has-11-million-trial-
subscribers/