Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, Deezer, Rdio, Rhapsody, Amazon Prime. All seven and we’ll watch them fall. There are actually more than seven streaming music services, however, regardless of the number, none of them are able to stream music by the artist currently known as Prince.
On the heels of releasing a new track, HARDROCKLOVER, on SoundCloud, the Purple One has requested that, with the exception of Jay-Z-backed Tidal, all streaming music services should take down his music. That won’t be a problem for Apple Music, because he never gave the burgeoning service permission to stream his collection in the first place.
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
The following message was posted on Prince’s artist page:
“Prince’s publisher has asked all streaming services to remove his catalog. We have cooperated with the request and hope to bring his music back as soon as possible.” This includes all music from Prince, the artist formerly known as prince, Prince & the New Power Generation, and Prince & The Revolution.
Tidal, the hi-definition streaming service acquired by Jay-Z and “co-owned” by many others, worked with Prince to provide free live audio of Prince’s Rally 4 Peace event at Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena in May. The concert was Prince’s idea to help heal the community following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody and its ensuing riots. Along with their 60-minute stream of Prince’s show, Tidal promised to “match funds” of all donations made through their official site to support Baltimore youth charities. The collaboration may explain why Tidal is excused from the alienation Prince is doling out to other streaming music services.
