Tidal has become one of the world's most well-respected music streaming services. They are known not only for their high-quality sound, with FLAC and MQA as their main players but also because they are among the highest-paying services. They pay their artists, on average, more than most other music streaming services.
Want to see how Tidal stacks up against companies like Spotify and Apple when it comes to royalties? Check out this Spotify Calculator; it has all the major streaming services, too.
What is Tidal’s DJ feature?
The first thing that you should know is that it isn’t like Spotify’s group sessions, where all of the people in the jam can add songs. Instead, Tidal’s DJ feature means that one person selects all of the songs and deals with the track listings - as if they were the DJ.
You can start a session any time you like. For example, while you are listening to your favorite song or playlist. You can personalize the name of the playlist and share the link with friends - but if they don’t have Tidal, they’ll be prompted to start a free trial.
It is worth noting two things: One is that you can only listen to a session happening in your country, and the second is that if you start playing something, anything Now Playing will make its way into the session.
How do you start a Tidal DJ session?
The first thing that you should spend your time doing is creating a playlist that you want to share with others. Alternatively, if you use Tidal a lot, your Custom Mixes will be perfect.
Here is how to do it via mobile:
- Tap the playlist you want to share
- Press play
- Tap the play bar at the bottom, showing the Now Playing track
- Look in the top right for Live, tap it
- Give your playlist a name, copy the link, and share it - and that is it!
Initially, you had to sign up for the Early Access Program, now known as the Beta. Although that is no longer a requirement, if you want to do that, you go into the settings on the mobile app, navigate to Join beta, tap it, and flip the toggle to on.
How do you create the perfect mix on Tidal DJ?
Creating the perfect playlist is something that takes time and effort - think back to the old days when every space on a CD you were going to burn mattered. Keep these things in mind to any playlist you build:
- Who is it for? One person? A group of people?
- What is it for? Gaming? Studying? Dancing?
- How long should it be?
When you know the answers to those questions, you will be able to build a playlist that works exactly as you need it to. There are a couple of other things you need to think about, like crossfading and the tempo. Having a run of high-tempo tracks with a slower-tempo throw-in can kill the vibe, but a well-balanced combination can work wonderfully.
Before sharing the playlist, make sure you listen to it at least thrice, once after making it and twice more with fresh ears a few hours later.
And if you or your friends are really into music, listen to the playlist on a regular speaker and wear headphones. Make sure that you have selected the highest quality tracks for the playlist and that other people have selected the highest quality in their own settings, too.
How to make the most of intelligent Tidal song selection
Any time that you need help building the playlist, you can lean on one of Tidal’s great features. The Suggested Tracks on the bottom of the screen will suggest tracks that match the genre, style, and tempo of what you are listening to. All you need to do is press play on any song and tape the d button, and you’ll be presented with a list to choose from.
You can repeat the process as many times as you like and add the songs to the play queue.
You can use this feature when you are live or as you build the playlist.
Is this the same as Tidal for DJs?
No, Tidal for DJs is a separate feature that caters to both novice and professional DJs. It has a huge range of integrations, tools, and mixing options. Check out Tidal for DJs for more information and the full list of capabilities.
Which is better, Tidal DJ or Spotify Group Sessions?
There is one defining factor here that will make the decision: do you want other people to contribute to the playlist, or do you want complete control? Tidal DJ is the best choice if you want to maintain control over the list and curate the listening experience.
Spotify group sessions are great for those who want to create a collaborative playlist and don’t mind Barbie Girl somehow making it into the playlist.
For casual listening and something with some fun for everyone, Spotify group sessions are ideal, but for functions, events, parties, and even long study sessions, Tidal offers more control and a more curated playlist.
Both have very easy-to-use interfaces and easy sharing options - so you can share your link on any platform or just with friends. Tidal is here on the left, and Spotify is on the right.
Is Tidal starting to look more appealing than your current music streaming service, but aren’t ready to leave your curated playlists behind? Good news for you, then! When you have signed up for your Tidal trial, you can use the FreeYourMusic app to quickly move your albums, songs, and playlists across with you. And what’s more, you can move your first 100 for free - perfect for testing a new platform.
