With last week’s press-conference for Jay Z’s new streaming service Tidal raising as many questions as it answered, HipHopDX’s Editor-in-chief Justin Hunte breaks down the influx of streaming platforms in the latest edition of the DX Daily.
While Tidal is the service currently making headlines, Hunte points out that Jay Z’s venture into streaming is just the latest in a long list of entertainment artists investing in the space.
Last year, Nas put his celebrity behind the launch of Pluto.TV, a new curated streaming platform for online video. In a statement to HipHopDX, Nas explained why he was motivated to get involved in the streaming industry and with Pluto specifically.
“We’ve been very interested in how content is being consumed and the patterns around how people populate the day with what they watch,” the rapper said through a statement. “We saw that people aren’t as concerned with sitting at the TV to watch a show live but much more interested in watching it on their own time. Binge watching has increased drastically. Netflix even releases full seasons at once. Those patterns led us to believe that quality content that you can have when you want is already in full swing and Pluto’s platform speaks to that. It’s taking that trend and magnifying it. Should be an exciting journey!”
DX also spoke with Rhymefest to get an artist’s perspective on the shift and recent buzz over Tidal. Breaking down why he thinks Tidal’s success hinges on getting customers to align themselves with the narrative of the company, Fest says there’s a possible “gold rush” in the streaming industry.
“I think it’s a thought war,” Rhymefest said. “I think that you probably starting to get a gold rush is in market share, right? Market share is how many people can you get to believe what you believe, think how you think, go with your way of doing things. I think we’re in a thought war and I believe that before anybody ever signs up for Tidal, they have to believe in Jay Z. They have to believe that what he’s telling them is best for where they need to go. What do a lot of businesses do? They give you a free trial run. They don’t start off charging you. My first three months of Spotify was free. They wanna get my mind into it. So I think more so than a gold rush, the first thing they gotta do is get your thoughts, get you to believe in it. So it’s a thought war that turns into a gold rush if you win the thought war.”
Watch the whole DX breakdown below.
Another reason why Nas is losing. Nobody knew that he launched that Pluto TV. I wonder how that’s working out? Not so good. Meanwhile, Hov launches Tidal and gets headlines everywhere. Smarten up, Nas.
It must be so tiring hating someone so much.
How is Nas losing? Pluto is for video and Tidal is for music do you understand that?
That’s like comparing Youtube to Soundcloud or some dumb shit.
The only L resides around your own dumbass neck.
Alright, Nas stans. Explain how Pluto TV is such a great success, then. You can’t. Nas is losing.
Get off Jay-Z dick yo, give Beyonce a turn, it’s her husband. So he’s made better business decisions. Having more money does not equal a fulfilling happy life. Nas has always had a serene, wise, content look about him, been gettin money, and still makes great music.Meanwhile you’re sucking off a nigga who’s getting beat up by his sister-in-law, and co-signing a racist ‘upscale” business while making the worst music of his career.. See through the bullshit yo.
sounds like u have stock invested in Tidal,to care soo much about NaS’s businesses choices””
only way I can see tidal having much success is if beyonce n all them artists release full albums exclusive to the service why else would you pay 10 bucks a month with all the streaming n devices around. Plus who the fuck wants to put more money in Jay Z Or Madonnas pockets FOH
Well phony “becky loving” wannabe whyte Nas is dating Madonna so he wouldnt have a problem putting money in her pocket if he actually had some money.
You guys are just assholes…these guys (Nas & Jay-Z) are Hip-Hop lifers, who saw the beginning of it all, were active during the greatest and worst years of Hip-Hop, had their own ups and downs, and are still here, not only relevant, but exceptional in the game. And you guys are still complaining about it. Who would you want at the helm of hip-hop? As a Hip-Hop fan I’m proud of them. If someone told me 20 years ago that in 2015 Nas and Jay-Z would still be at the top of Hip-Hop, making dope music, and help steering the creative direction of the culture, I’d be glad to hear it. Peace.