Introducing Tidal’s Live Feature: A Revolutionary Way to Share Music with Friends
Tidal, the popular music streaming service owned by Block, has rolled out a new feature that allows users to act as DJs and share their favorite tracks with friends. The feature, called Live, is now available for both HiFi ($9.99 per month) and HiFi Plus ($19.99 per month) subscribers.
How Live Works
Unlike Spotify’s Group Sessions, which enables multiple users to control the song queue, Tidal’s Live feature puts one person in charge of selecting the music. This DJ can create a session by tapping the Live button in the top-right corner while listening to any song or playlist. They can then name the session and share the link with their friends.
A Session Creator’s Power
The creator of the session has control over what tracks are played, but they can also edit the list to ensure it aligns with the session’s theme. This feature is particularly useful for events like parties or gatherings where a specific type of music is desired.
Benefits for Listeners
When friends join a Live session, they can listen to the selected tracks in real-time. However, if they are not paying subscribers, Tidal will ask them to join via a free trial. This ensures that only authenticated users can access the content.
The Impact on Stream Counts
Tidal has implemented a unique approach to counting streams within a Live session. If five people are listening to a track simultaneously, it counts as five separate streams. This encourages DJs to create engaging playlists and fosters a sense of community among listeners.
Limitations and Future Plans
One notable limitation is that users can only create and listen to sessions in their registered country. However, Tidal plans to address this issue in the future.
In addition to Live, Tidal has been experimenting with displaying various live sessions on its home page. These sessions are curated by Tidal’s team or created by users, providing a platform for artists and tastemakers to showcase their music.
A Chat with Agustina Sacerdote
We spoke with Agustina Sacerdote, global head of Product at Tidal, about the Live feature. She explained that the goal was to create an easy way for people to share music, particularly among friends and family.
"We thought music is something that should be easily shared," she said. "We wanted to create something for your family’s designated DJ or a friend who is a tastemaker, who can easily showcase their taste."
Sacerdote also mentioned the company’s vision for integrating social features into Live sessions. While users can currently see how many people are tuned in, Tidal plans to introduce features like thumbs-up or thumbs-down reactions to the DJ’s choices.
Supporting Rising Artists
Tidal has also been focusing on supporting emerging artists by treating them as small businesses. The company is exploring various tools to help artists manage their business, including connecting with fans and selling merchandise.
"We were very committed to this notion of helping artists better manage and grow their business, which is effectively their fans," Sacerdote said. "So you can imagine a world in which Live becomes a tool with which artists manage and connect with their audiences."
A Look at Tidal’s Competition
Tidal faces stiff competition from other music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. However, its unique approach to live sessions and artist support sets it apart.
In conclusion, the introduction of Live is an exciting development for Tidal users. This feature has the potential to transform the way people share and discover new music. As the company continues to innovate and expand its offerings, we can expect even more groundbreaking features in the future.
How to Get Started with Tidal’s Live Feature
To access the Live feature on Tidal, simply:
- Sign up for a HiFi or HiFi Plus subscription.
- Tap the Live button in the top-right corner while listening to any song or playlist.
- Create a session and share it with your friends.
Start exploring the possibilities of Tidal’s Live feature today!
