It's over for TIDAL – Accused of Massively Inflating Beyoncé and Kanye Streaming Numbers

[moli70]

A new investigative report by the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv alleges that TIDAL deliberately inflated streaming numbers for Beyoncé’s album Lemonade and Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo by hundreds of millions of plays, as Music Business Worldwide and the French news agency Agence France-Pressereport. TIDAL has denied the claims, calling it a “smear campaign.”

According to MBW, reporters from DN obtained a hard drive that allegedly contained manipulated TIDAL streaming data. DN took its findings to Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)’s Center for Cyber and Information Security (CCIS), which analyzed it and produced a study.

DN reports that the study found over 320 million false plays of Lemonade and TLOP songs, affecting over 1.7 million users, according to the AFP. Alleged false plays include, for example, one user who played TLOP tracks 96 times within one day, with 54 of them coming in the middle of the night, according to the report. The data also reportedly shows users “listening” to multiple songs at once, according to MBW. In addition, tracks were reportedly played at suspiciously precise intervals—every six minutes, down to the second and millisecond.

Music Business Worldwide states that DN accessed TIDAL’s record company royalty payment reports, which show that, in April and May 2016, the platform paid Sony $2.5 million for Lemonade streams; in February and March 2016, TIDAL allegedly paid Universal around $2.3 million in royalties for TLOP streams.

Both Lemonade and The Life of Pablo were released exclusively on TIDAL in 2016. While TLOP was a six-week exclusive on the JAY-Z-owned streaming service, Lemonade is still available to stream only at TIDAL. In March 2016, TIDAL announced that TLOP was streamed 250 million times in its first 10 days after release. In May 2016, just over two weeks after Lemonade’s release, The New York Timesreported that Beyoncé’s album received 306 million global streams.

TIDAL sent the following statement to Pitchfork:

This is a smear campaign from a publication that once referred to our employee as an “Israeli Intelligence officer” and our owner as a “crack dealer.”

We expect nothing less from them than this ridiculous story, lies and falsehoods. The information was stolen and manipulated and we will fight these claims vigorously.

According to Variety, the “Israeli Intelligence officer” and “crack dealer” comments were made in previous Dagens Næringsliv stories about TIDAL, referring to TIDAL COO Lior Tibon and Jay-Z, respectively.

Dagens Næringsliv has published multiple reports on TIDAL. In January 2017, the newspaper alleged that TIDAL was inflating subscriber numbers. Then, in December 2017, DN reported that TIDAL lost NOK$368 million (around $44 million) before taxes in 2016. In response, a TIDAL spokesperson said, “We have experienced negative stories about Tidal since its inception and we have done nothing but grow the business each year,” according to The Verge.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

This kinda stuff always follows Jay, but I wanna see receipts before believing this based on the "crack dealer" shyt

 

[Jerz-2]

Sounds like this publication has a specific vendetta against TIDAL...and I don't even have or use TIDAL.

 

[Ol’Otis]

92 bricks!!!!

 

[Cloud McFly]

Of course it’s true. They wouldn't lie about this



*back to listening to new Royce on TIDAL*

 

[10bandz]

Yeah, because its only Tidal that does this

Nonetheless, this is why I dont believe streaming numbers ever

 

[CrimsonTider]

Everyone was calling those 250 mill streams for TLOP fake on here because there no valid source backing it up

 

[Omar Little]

I aint gonna stop listening to Reasonable Doubt because the streaming service its on falsified two pop Artists streaming numbers LOL

 

[ZEB WALTON]

Stopped reading after

“DN reports that the study found over 320 million false plays of Lemonade and TLOPsongs, affecting over 1.7 million users, according to the AFP. Alleged false plays include, for example, one user who played TLOP tracks 96 times within one day, with 54 of them coming in the middle of the night, according to the report. The data also reportedly shows users “listening” to multiple songs at once, according to MBW. In addition, tracks were reportedly played at suspiciously precise intervals—every six minutes, down to the second and millisecond.”

These goes know how repeat works? I put albums on all night too. I know people what leave music on all day in they house, then they goto work and login n listen over there.

Click bait bs.

 

[MrWestGrand]

1st they threaten to hold Jay in contempt over a subpoena regarding the company he sold RW too, which doesn’t even involve him. Now, they are attacking Tidal with accusations that can be levied against any of the streaming sites in general.

Seems like a agenda against Jay may be brewing....

 

[Formerly Black Trash]

These goes know how repeat works? I put albums on all night too. I know people what leave music on all day in they house, then they goto work and login n listen over there.

Click bait bs.

Nah I don’t know anyone who does this

 

[WSFGDan]

Stopped reading after

“DN reports that the study found over 320 million false plays of Lemonade and TLOPsongs, affecting over 1.7 million users, according to the AFP. Alleged false plays include, for example, one user who played TLOP tracks 96 times within one day, with 54 of them coming in the middle of the night, according to the report. The data also reportedly shows users “listening” to multiple songs at once, according to MBW. In addition, tracks were reportedly played at suspiciously precise intervals—every six minutes, down to the second and millisecond.”

These goes know how repeat works? I put albums on all night too. I know people what leave music on all day in they house, then they goto work and login n listen over there.

Click bait bs.

Maybe you should've kept reading.

They interviewed the tidal users in question & they said they never streamed those songs or albums

 

[Grano-Grano]

1st they threaten to hold Jay in contempt over a subpoena regarding the company he sold RW too, which doesn’t even involve him. Now, they are attacking Tidal with accusations that can be levied against any of the streaming sites in general.

Seems like a agenda against Jay may be brewing....

Exactly what it is. The Iconix Brand Group is owned by Russians. So, take that for what it is.

 

[ZEB WALTON]

Nah I don’t know anyone who does this

You dont know anyone who lets multiple people use their accounts?

Maybe you should've kept reading.

They interviewed the tidal users in questions & they said they never streamed those songs or albums

Shoulda started with that then. Saying shyts running at night is not a cause for alarm and neither is having two users on at once. Like 6 people got my netflix account. Cant wait for homie to do the netflix article and find my account watching 3 movies at once round the clock. My shyts running now. Tv off.

This is all cuz jay z owns tidal anyway

 

[OHSNAP!]

Whoever believes the streaming numbers out there is a fukkin moronic fool