Tidal

Tidal is a music streaming platform founded by Jay-Z that offers high-fidelity audio and exclusive content. It provides users with a vast library of music, videos, and podcasts featuring numerous artists across various genres.

CCI Score

-6.71

May 3

Latest Event

TIDAL Announces Significant Job Layoffs

TIDAL, owned by Block, has reportedly planned further job cuts that could reduce its workforce by up to a quarter. The internal memo from Block CEO Jack Dorsey outlined a restructuring effort aimed at making TIDAL operate like a startup, with eliminations affecting engineering, design, product management, and product marketing roles, following previous layoffs in December 2023.

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COLLABORATOR

Tidal is currently rated as a Collaborator.

-5 to -9 CCI Score

In this category, companies align with authoritarian practices mainly to avoid trouble or regulatory conflict. Their compliance is driven by self-preservation, resulting in minimal resistance even as they participate in oppressive systems.

Latest Events

OCT

31

2024

TIDAL Announces Significant Job Layoffs
-66.56

TIDAL, owned by Block, has reportedly planned further job cuts that could reduce its workforce by up to a quarter. The internal memo from Block CEO Jack Dorsey outlined a restructuring effort aimed at making TIDAL operate like a startup, with eliminations affecting engineering, design, product management, and product marketing roles, following previous layoffs in December 2023.
-70

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

April 6

The significant job cuts at TIDAL undermine workers' rights and contribute to job insecurity. Such large-scale layoffs, particularly the elimination of key roles like product management and marketing, reflect poorly on the company's labor relations and ethical responsibility. The move is seen as prioritizing operational efficiency over employee welfare, aligning with practices that typically harm marginalized and vulnerable workers.

Latest round of TIDAL layoffs could hit a quarter of staff (report)
DEC

06

2023

Tidal Layoffs Impact Workers Amid Austerity Measures
-52.12

Tidal, the music streaming service once owned by Jay-Z, laid off over 10% of its staff (approximately 40 employees) as part of broader austerity measures announced by its parent company, Block Inc., led by tech billionaire Jack Dorsey.
-60

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

April 6

The mass layoffs affecting more than 10% of Tidal's workforce demonstrate a disregard for worker rights and stability, exacerbating economic insecurity among employees. This move, as part of austerity measures by Block Inc., highlights problematic labor relations and ethical practices that undermine worker protection.

Dorsey's Ax Hits Tidal Music Service, Over 10% of Staff Let Go
DEC

06

2023

Tidal Staff Layoffs Impact Workers' Rights
-43.43

Tidal, majority owned by Block, laid off over 10% of its workforce (approximately 40 employees) on December 6, 2023, as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy. This move raises concerns regarding worker security and fair labor practices.
-50

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

April 6

The decision to lay off more than 10% of Tidal's staff reflects a disregard for workers' job security and fair labor practices. These layoffs, implemented as part of cost-cutting measures, contribute to an erosion of worker rights and exemplify corporate practices that can exacerbate economic insecurity among employees.

Music Streaming Service Tidal Lays Off More Than 10% of Staff - Variety
MAR

03

2023

Tidal Partners with UMG to Revamp Streaming Compensation
36.67

Tidal, in collaboration with Universal Music Group, extended its streaming partnership to platforms like Deezer while ending its direct-to-artist payout program in favor of a promotion-focused initiative called 'Rising'. The collaboration is part of a broader effort, announced during UMG’s Q4 2022 earnings call and reiterated in early 2023, to develop an innovative economic model that aims to fairly reward artists and foster deeper fan engagement across multiple digital platforms.
+50

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 6

The move reflects a significant shift in business practices by pivoting away from a direct-to-artist payout program in favor of a promotion-driven initiative. This approach is aligned with efforts to redesign streaming compensation in a way that could promote a fairer, more sustainable model within the music ecosystem, benefiting creators and smaller artists typically marginalized by traditional revenue-sharing models.

Universal Music, Tidal Streaming Collab Reaches New Platforms
+40

Economic and Structural Influence

April 6

Tidal’s collaboration with UMG and integration of its promotional initiative within a retooled compensation framework demonstrates a noteworthy economic and structural influence. This strategic partnership not only reshapes revenue models within the streaming sector, but also signals an industry-wide shift towards sustainable and equitable economic practices that can enhance the overall market structure for artists, fans, and platforms alike.

Universal Music, Tidal Streaming Collab Reaches New Platforms
FEB

01

2023

Tidal Partners with UMG for Artist-Centric Streaming Payout Model
51.45

Tidal and Universal Music Group announced a partnership to explore an innovative economic model for music streaming that aims to enhance artist compensation and align fan engagement with revenue distribution, potentially challenging the traditional pro-rata system that favors major labels.
+60

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 6

Tidal's initiative to develop a new streaming payout model represents a proactive effort to reform legacy compensation systems in the music industry. By focusing on improving royalties distribution to better reward artists, the company is aligning its business practices with ethical responsibility and progressive economic reforms that challenge exploitative traditional practices.

Tidal, Universal Music Partner On New Streaming Payout Model
+70

Economic and Structural Influence

April 6

The partnership not only rethinks royalties distribution but also indicates a broader shift in the economic structure of the streaming landscape. By investigating alternative revenue models, Tidal contributes to reshaping industry power dynamics, supporting more sustainable and equitable economic practices that counter entrenched, authoritarian profit structures.

Tidal, Universal Music Partner On New Streaming Payout Model
JAN

31

2023

Tidal & UMG Partner for Equitable Streaming Model
48.77

Tidal and Universal Music Group announced a partnership to develop an innovative economic model for music streaming that better rewards artists based on fan engagement, reflecting a commitment to fairer revenue distribution in an industry long criticized for undervaluing creative labor.
+70

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 6

This initiative demonstrates Tidal's proactive approach to business practices by striving to create a fairer economic model in the music streaming industry. By aligning its revenue distribution more equitably with artists' engagement, Tidal supports progressive values and addresses ongoing concerns about exploitation in the digital music economy.

TIDAL and Universal Music Group Partner to Develop More Artist- and Fan-Friendly Streaming Model
+50

Economic and Structural Influence

April 6

By exploring new economic models that can reshape how revenue is distributed in the streaming industry, Tidal and UMG are taking steps toward systemic change. This approach challenges traditional profit structures and supports a more balanced economic influence that could empower artists and reduce industry consolidation.

TIDAL and Universal Music Group Partner to Develop More Artist- and Fan-Friendly Streaming Model
MAY

14

2018

Investigations into Tidal's Alleged Data Manipulation and Royalty Reductions
-21.72

Following allegations reported by a Norwegian business newspaper, several Scandinavian music industry organizations have filed complaints and demanded audits of Tidal. The company is accused of manipulating streaming play data for high-profile artists and unilaterally reducing royalty payouts from 62.5% to 55% without new negotiations. Tidal, in its response, dismissed the claims as a smear campaign, targeting critics with derogatory remarks.
-30

Public and Political Behavior

April 6

Tidal's public response, where it dismisses serious allegations as a smear campaign and resorts to ad hominem attacks against media and critics, reflects a troubling approach in its public and political engagement that undermines transparent accountability.

Criminal Complaints And Industry Investigations Target Tidal
-60

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 6

Allegations that Tidal manipulated internal streaming play data and reduced royalty payments without renegotiation point to serious breaches in ethical business practices. This not only undermines trust but also harms artists' livelihoods, prompting industry bodies to demand accountability.

Criminal Complaints And Industry Investigations Target Tidal