Tidal, the music streaming service, has decided to jump on the bandwagon and raise the price of its basic HiFi subscription.
Just like its competitors Apple Music, Deezer, and Amazon Music, Tidal has hiked up the cost of its individual membership starting from August 1st.
As a result, customers in the US will now have to shell out an extra dollar, bringing the monthly fee to $11.
The family plan, on the other hand, will see a $2 increase, with subscribers having to pay $17 per month. This move is not limited to the US alone; Tidal has also raised prices in various other markets, as reported by Billboard.
- Advertisement -
In a statement provided to Engadget, Tidal has clarified that its HiFi Plus tier remains unaffected by this price adjustment.
The HiFi Plus plan, priced at $20 per month, offers a premium experience with features like Dolby Atmos Music, Sony 360 Audio, and Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) tracks.
At present, it seems that the free tier, student plan, and discounted military membership will remain unaffected, but only time will tell if they will also face changes in the future.
It’s worth noting that many of Tidal’s competitors have already raised their prices in recent months.
Deezer and Apple Music both bumped up their individual plan prices to $11 per month toward the end of 2022. Following suit, Amazon Music also implemented a similar price increase in February.
Interestingly, Spotify has chosen not to follow this trend and has kept the price of its individual plan at $10 per month in the US since 2011.
However, industry insiders predict that it won’t be long before Spotify joins the price hike club, especially considering recent remarks made by CEO Daniel Ek.
There are even rumors circulating that Spotify is working on an eagerly anticipated high-fidelity plan, rumored to include audiobooks, which could potentially launch sometime this year.
From a general perspective, it’s not surprising to see Tidal increase its prices, considering the actions taken by its competitors. In a fiercely competitive market, streaming services are constantly seeking ways to enhance their offerings and stay ahead of the game.
However, as a consumer, it can be frustrating to see prices continually rise, especially when it feels like every platform is following suit. These price increases might lead some music enthusiasts to explore alternative options or perhaps reconsider their streaming habits altogether.
Ultimately, the evolving landscape of music streaming will continue to shape the industry and its pricing strategies.
It remains to be seen how customers will react to these changes and whether the increased costs are justified by the added value and features offered by Tidal and other streaming platforms.
As the battle for supremacy in the music streaming market rages on, it’s the listeners who will ultimately determine which service is worth their hard-earned money.
