Jay Z Launches His New Streaming Service, Tidal, With Beyoncé, Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Daft Punk and Yes More!

 
The hip-hop mogul is announcing the launch of Tidal, a new streaming service poised to compete with the likes of Spotify, Pandora, Beats Music, iTunes and so many others. The big announcement was made via livestream at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET—and you can watch it over right here.

Seriously, who besides the Recording Academy (which puts on the Grammys) could gather Beyoncé, Madonna, Rihanna, Kanye West, Usher, Alicia Keys, Arcade Fire's Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, Daft Punk, Chris Martin and Calvin Harris (each by separate satellite feed), Nicki Minaj, Jack White, Jason Aldean, Deadmau5 (that made three people with helmets on) and J. Cole on one stage to equally share the spotlight.
Heck, Beyoncé was announced third!

Bey's hubby also had Keys do the talking, the platinum-selling "Woman's Worth" artist proudly hailing the "first-ever artist-owned global music and entertainment platform."

The launch has seemingly been in the works since Jay Z snatched up Tidal's Swedish parent company, Aspiro, for a reported $56 million. Tidal is being billed as "the first music streaming service that combines the best high fidelity sound quality, high definition music videos and expertly curated editorial."
 

And, in addition to an already world-famous owner, Tidal has something that Spotify doesn't.
Yup, Taylor Swift.
Minus her latest album, 1989 (for now at least), Swift's catalogue will be included among Tidal's offerings, CNBC reported last week.