TIDAL has added millions of tracks in MQA from Warner Music Group to its Masters catalog.
MQA is a technology that delivers master quality audio in a file that’s small enough to stream or download.
TIDAL, in partnership with HD audio firm MQA (Master Quality Authenticated), provides guaranteed delivery of the original sound recording with TIDAL Masters.
Included in the new MQA tracks to be added to TIDAL today are iconic albums from artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Missy Elliott, LCD Soundsystem, Madonna and more.
TIDAL now claims to offer the largest MQA catalog outside of China and that its MQA users have doubled since 2019, while TIDAL HiFi users are now streaming 40% more tracks in master quality than last year.
MQA is led by Bob Stuart, who this year became the first audio engineer to receive the Prince Philip Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Key to the technology is MQA’s built-in authentication to confirm that the listener is getting the exact sound created in the studio.
Additionally, MQA addresses the issue that when analog sound is turned into digital, the process introduces time-smearing artefacts that blur sounds unnaturally.
MQA solves these problems, and then the MQA decoder in the TIDAL app ensures the conversion back to analog preserves the music’s pristine clarity.
Elsewhere, TIDAL has added ‘Master Edition’ Artist Radio and Track Radio.
In conjunction, TIDAL is adding the Master Edition of My New Arrivals, a personalized playlist of new music in full master quality audio for members based on their listening habits.
“By paying great attention to the nature of sound and the way we hear, MQA opens a clear window and delivers all the detail and nuance of the original song.”
Bob Stuart, MQA
Bob Stuart, MQA Founder said: “By paying great attention to the nature of sound and the way we hear, MQA opens a clear window and delivers all the detail and nuance of the original song.
“The music industry’s catalog contains millions of significant performances from the early days of CD where, sometimes, the recording was created in 44.1kHz 16bit and where no alternative existed. We are delighted that Warner Music Group is bringing this content to TIDAL.”
“As consumers’ expectations of high quality experiences increase, TIDAL’s audio innovation sets the bar for music listening.”
Lior Tibon, TIDAL
Lior Tibon, TIDAL COO added: “TIDAL Masters offer the best sound available. As consumers’ expectations of high quality experiences increase, TIDAL’s audio innovation sets the bar for music listening.
“Not only can members hear music exactly as their favorite artists recorded it, but with recent platform enhancements, the experience is as seamless as ever.”Music Business Worldwide
