Since its launch in late 2014, Tidal has struggled to make a real dent in the online music streaming market.
Despite its 4.2 million paid subscribers, the Jay Z-owned streaming service has had a checkered history, finding itself ridiculed, at the centre of countless lawsuits as a result of Kanye West duping millions of people into signing up for the service.
Apple Music and Tidal have also had their differences in the past, but now it would seem that all that may be reconciled – with Apple Music reportedly in “exploratory talks to acquire Tidal”. The Wall Street Journal reports that the terms of the deal are not yet known, but the acquisition would undoubtedly boost its subscriber base thanks to the addition of Tidal’s exclusive and popular artist base.
Tidal has recently had a large turnover of executives, and Apple’s potential acquisition would see some stability brought to the board of the company – but the fact that 19 artists and bands have stakes in Tidal may complicate any future deal.
This rumoured Tidal purchase isn’t the first. As Complex reports, it was reported in February this year that Samsung had expressed interest in buying the music streaming service, although nothing from those rumours eventuated.
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