Move to TIDAL music
For those who don’t want to wait and are ready to move 👇👇👇
🔥 Quick-fire guide for moving your music to TIDAL 🔥:
- Download the FreeYourMusic app on your desktop or mobile device.
- Open the app, and connect your source music platform (the music streaming service you are leaving).
- Once you have connected the source service, tap to connect TIDAL as your destination service.
- Select your favorite songs, albums, and favorite playlists, and tap Begin Transfer.
Anyone who needs some convincing or a little more detail about what that TIDAL HiFi subscription gets you, read on.
The choice can be overwhelming with so many music streaming services with different price brackets. And while it is important to remember that no service will have everything, they all have some benefits and features that mean people fall in love with them - and use them for years.
And while Apple Music and Spotify are the most popular, many users want something fresh - enter TIDAL.
No, they're not new, but they have an expansive music catalog, more audio-quality options than you can shake a stick at, plus are heavily focused on giving, in their words, an 'artist-centric fan-focused' experience.
Sounds great, so let's look deeper into why you should be moving your music to TIDAL, how to do it, and what you can expect when you get there.
Why you should switch to TIDAL
The first, second, and third reasons you'll see mentioned as reasons to move to TIDAL are audio quality.
This is one of the most solid reasons to stay signed up with any music streaming service because that is what you are in it for. You should look at the available formats to get the best from your music listening experience.
There is a stark difference between listening to your favorite artists on Spotiy's free tier and then on TIDAL's HiFi subscription.
That might not be a fair comparison, but even Spotify's Premium Subscription doesn't offer the same quality, and you get the good stuff for a few dollars more.
Moving from Spotify to TIDAL is a much easier decision to make than transferring from a music streaming service like Apple Music, Deezer, or Qobuz.
When these services are in the mix, it's going to come down to personal preference and features.
While they still aren't all equal in sound quality or price - for many, TIDAL still comes out top after testing either the free trial of TIDAL HiFi.
We put all the services head-to-head, and here is the rundown of the Best Music Streaming Service.
What is TIDAL?
The short answer is that TIDAL is a music streaming service, and it sits in the 'major' category.
The longer answer is that TIDAL is a music streaming service that was started with the goal of making sure artists get paid more for their streams. While it has had its ups and downs, it's a unique offering, and the continuous push for the best quality in the market has seen it grow rapidly.
Jay-Z is still a majority stakeholder and a member of the board of directors, while Block, formerly known as Square, is the majority owner. The original co-owners were Kanye West, Madonna, Arcade Fire, Chris Martin of Coldplay, deadmau5, Rihanna, Jason Aldean, Alicia Keys, Usher, Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé.
Some of the original musical owners have retained a smaller stake, and Kayne West had a famous conflict over his position and gave up his portion.
TIDAL's debut was in 2015, and between then and now, it will forever hold the title of the first artist-owned music and entertainment platform.
The future of TIDAL was offered up in a string of tweets from Jack Dorsey that talked about making it easier for artists to earn money through the platform, including easier merch sales integration, complimentary revenue streams, and collaboration tools (which we have seen in TIDAL Collabs).
TIDAL has put work into creating a toolkit for artists to enhance what they do and how they do it. TIDAL Rising, TIDAL Collabs, and funding those artists to achieve their goals.
A huge 100,000 artists are signed up for Artists Home, and the Rising program has expanded to 106 artists - although it started with just a handful. They also offer a lot of education, and it's all free - although it might cost money in the future.
So, who is TIDAL? Potentially pioneers in the music streaming industry who really are putting artists first. And while music streaming will still be a revenue source, it has set its sights on the music industry in a new way.
Why should I use TIDAL?
If hearing about what TIDAL does for artists doesn't make music lovers consider it an option, there are other reasons to use it.
Fan-focused is side by side with artistic-centric, so music fans and critics write the content they produce; there are interviews you won't find anywhere else, music-focused podcasts, the TIDAL magazine, and 650,000 videos.
One of the features that people tend to focus on is the sound quality; while that will be the most significant reason, it isn't the only thing they offer for music fans.
Let's take a look at what these features have and why they make TIDAL the place to be.
The TIDAL UI is neater than the others
The UI is a personal preference, and it is easier to look at them all side by side. Often, you can become used to a cluttered UI, and you don't notice it over time. So here are the major streaming services side-by-side.
The mobile device UI isn't always a deal breaker, and in many respects, they are very similar - however, the spacing, colors, and ease of use make a big difference on a small screen.
The desktops have more significant differences, so let's take a look there too.
Is the TIDAL magazine good?
It's free content; you don't need a subscription to enjoy it. But you're less likely to head here if you aren't using TIDAL already.
What makes the magazine itself cool is that it is broken down into a range of music genres and categories.
So you can find essays written by music journalists; as much as there are fluffier pieces, you'll find some excellent opinion pieces like: Critic’s Notebook: Juice WRLD, Interpreter of Sadness.
Clicking on the Conversation from the menu will take you to some meaty interviews - and what sets this apart is that it isn't focused entirely on newer artists; you'll find Talking Heads, The Spinners, Jay-Z, and Nduduzo Makhathini.
It's a mix of content that suits music lovers and is written with care for the fans.
In Discover, you'll currently find a Jay-Z-curated playlist feature: Jay-Z: Couple Songs of '23.
How does it compare to the Qobuz magazine? In terms of the writers, it is a tough call, but the TIDAL mag feels less cluttered. The Hi-Fi section of the Qobuz magazine is a treasure trove, though, for audiophiles, it is absolutely everything you want when it comes to hardware.
Perhaps the most significant thing, though, is the Culture section on TIDAL - because it does what it says on the tin.
TIDAL video content
We know that TIDAL is invested in their new artists, which is evident in the Culture section (not the magazine Culture section but the main menu).
You'll find documentaries that offer an incredible insight into the artists - and how TIDAL contributes to their art, as well as SESSIONS.
And TIDAL is home to 650,000 music videos, with more added and curated each week.
For those who don't just like to listen to music casually, and it is a part of your hobbies, and what you love, the documentaries are high quality and worth your time.
Does TIDAL have podcasts?
While Spotify is loud with its podcasts, and Apple has Apple Podcasts, TIDAL does have a couple - they are more purposeful because you have to go and find them.
And, just like the rest of the platform, it is conscious content that isn't designed to be pushed upon you - but rather there for you to uncover.
Why is TIDAL not as popular as Spotify or Apple Music?
Price. TIDAl's subscription price can be high compared to Deezer, Apple Music, and Spotify.
But, the idea behind the higher subscription is top-class audio options and better pay for the artists.
For anyone who wants to support their favorite artists through streaming services, TIDAL is an excellent way to do it.
Of course, physical music, merchandise, and gig tickets are other options. But with digital music being so available, a better way to get your faves paid is to choose a streaming service that pays them better.
Pricing aside, some people have an issue with the search function not being super intuitive and that playlists can feel messy.
That said, TIDAL isn't explicitly playlist-centric, unlike most other services. That's not to say you can move your playlists to TIDAL and enjoy the higher quality because playlist building and management are easy; it's just not the focus.
Apple Music has the Apple ecosystem for support, and Spotify was quick to the market - and secured its place as the default. So coming to the race so late meant TIDAL had to make up a lot of ground.
Does TIDAL have better music discovery than Deezer?
Typically, people ask if TIDAL has better music discovery than Spotify. But actually, Deezer is one of the best choices of music streaming services when it comes to music discovery options.
And here is where the algorithm that Spotify uses can stop you from finding new music.
Spotify likes to play you more of what you want, so their mixes are often only filled with music you listen to regularly anyway. Deezer and TIDAL take a different approach to music discovery - so new music seekers will have a better chance of uncovering something new to them.
So, how does music discovery work on TIDAL? Let's dig into it a bit.
My Daily Discovery
So there is usage of your listening data in play - because that data offers TIDAL the opportunity to give you what you want.
But it also provides them the chance to deliver songs that are similar but not the same as what you have listened to. It's a dynamic mix that gives you some of what you know and a lot more of what you don't.
While there is a lot to be said for having playlists that could be considered more 'safe,' i.e., something you will always like, a little more adventure in your listening is a welcome addition for many.
Your listening time matters here; the more you listen, the more accurately TIDAL can predict what you might like, even when it looks like a wildcard.
My New Arrivals
In the My New Arrivals playlist you'll find tracks from artists, producers and genres that you listen to often.
It might be deepcuts that aren't as popular, it could be hot drops, either way it's based on what you listen to regularly and what you might like.
TIDAL Rising
We've spoken a bit about TIDAL's Rising program and what makes it special - but it also makes a difference to what you listen to and how you discover it.
With a focus on promoting artists that you haven't heard before, you are more likely to find something that isn't in your usual listening remit.
That d button
For those who have never used the TIDAL app, you haven't seen the d button just yet. The d button appears when you have a track playing - you can tap it and instantly get some recommendations based on the track that you are currently listening to.
It is a super fast way to find some new music content and dive in immediately.
What are the cons of using TIDAL?
For most people, the main disadvantage of TIDAL is the price. TIDAL HiFi costs $10.99 . With the HiFi sub, you get High sound quality, HiRes Flac, MQA, Sony 360 Reality Audio, the HIFi Plus, and Dolby Atmos Music.
It is worth noting that MQA and 360 Reality are being removed.
Your hardware makes a more significant impact when higher sound quality comes into play. You're bottlenecking it without headphones or speakers that can adequately deliver the sound you want to hear.
Data demands are high, so you will need a fast and stable connection, and if you're using mobile data, unlimited is a must, or you'll use all of your allowances.
Here is why: With Spotify, the average file size sits between 3-8MB; in comparison, when on the Max setting and MQA, you're looking at 20-30MB per song—a significant difference.
If any of the following apply to you, then a TIDAL subscription isn't going to be worth it:
- You don't use mid to high-end headphones with a wire.
- You don't have speakers that can work with the quality.
- Limited mobile data or unstable broadband.
TIDAL makes the most of your hardware
When you want to listen to music, and we mean really listen, it should be the best audio quality that you can. TIDAL works brilliantly with most home HiFi sets and many different home hubs, but it really shines when you are plugged in with wires.
You can check compatability here: TIDAL Supported Devices.
Since the highest formats don’t travel over Bluetooth, plugging in some good quality headphones or using wired speakers is going to give you stunning sound quality.
Or, for a crisp listening experience without headphones, speakers with Dolby Atmos will make use of that feature, too.
Here is our pick of the top noise-canceling headphones: Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones.
Move music to TIDAL in minutes
Making the commitment to a higher-priced music subscription service isn’t always an easy decision, but TIDAL offers a lot for the price.
Tip: if you house share or live with family, the Family HiFi Plus is excellent value, the price has been reduced in the last few months and is $16.99.
Moving your music to TIDAL doesn’t have to be a long process.
Use the FreeYourMusic app to move 1000 songs for free (with newsletter sign-up in the mobile app - found in the Profile tab), and combine it with the free TIDAL trial so you can test the mobile app and pitch your current music service against the audio quality on an identical playlist.
Once you've made the decision to switch, upgrade to Premium Subscription and move your entire music library in a few clicks.
