TIDAL is merging its HiFi and HiFi Plus tiers into a single, unified plan simply called “TIDAL,” in a move to simplify its subscription structure and potentially attract new users.
This change, effective April 10, 2024, brings all the features of its HiFi Plus tier, including access to Dolby Atmos and HiRes FLAC audio content, to the standard HiFi tier price of USD $10.99 per month, TIDAL wrote on its support page on Sunday (March 3).
Previously, TIDAL offered two premium tiers: HiFi, which provided access to CD-quality lossless streams at 44.1 kHz / 16 bit, priced at $10.99 per month, and HiFi Plus, which added Master Quality Authenticated (MQA), Dolby Atmos, and Sony 360 Reality Audio spatial audio capabilities for $19.99 per month.
“The introduction of a single TIDAL subscription tier means more fans across 61 markets globally can discover and enjoy music in HiRes FLAC and Dolby Atmos catalog in addition to over 110 million tracks in lossless quality for a best-in-class listening experience.”
TIDAL
TIDAL says the change will apply across the 61 markets it operates in globally.
The previous two-tier structure potentially confused users and created a cost barrier for those interested in the immersive audio experience.
“The introduction of a single TIDAL subscription tier means more fans across 61 markets globally can discover and enjoy music in HiRes FLAC and Dolby Atmos catalog in addition to over 110 million tracks in lossless quality for a best-in-class listening experience,” TIDAL wrote.
In addition to the new Individual plan, TIDAL is also offering a Family plan priced at $16.99 for one user and up to five other family members. A Student plan is also available at $4.99 a month. TIDAL is also introducing an add-on for $9 a month to access more than 110 million songs in lossless quality through its suite of DJ partners.
This decision aligns Tidal with competitors like Apple Music and Amazon Music, which offer lossless features at the same price point. Apple Music in October 2022 raised its subscription price by $1 to the current $10.99 per month, while Amazon Music did the same in January 2023. Spotify followed suit in July 2023 alongside TIDAL, which also announced a price increase from $9.99. However, Spotify still doesn’t offer lossless streaming.
The latest update potentially positions Tidal as a more attractive option for audiophiles seeking both high-fidelity audio and immersive audio experiences within a single subscription.
However, the change might raise concerns for existing HiFi Plus subscribers who were previously paying $19.99 per month. While they will automatically gain access to the additional features of the merged tier, some may feel they are not receiving the full value for the price they initially signed up for.
The pricing change comes several months afterTIDAL laid off 10% of its staff, or 40 employees, as part of a broader cost-saving strategy implemented by its parent company, Block Inc.
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