Jay-Z slams Apple, Google, in rap defending Tidal
Jay-Z has slammed Apple,
Google and Spotify – rivals to his Tidal
music-streaming service – in the way he knows best: a rap.
The U.S. artist ripped into the tech
giants at a gig on Saturday called "B Sides," a performance of his
rarest tracks that was supposed to be exclusively streamed on Tidal.
Tidal has come under criticism for its $20-a-month price tag – double
the $9.99 its rivals charge - with many seeing the platform as just a way for
wealthy musicians to get richer.
In answer to his critics, the rapper
highlighted that people bought sneakers and iPhones which made both Nike
Chairman, Phil Knight, and the late Apple CEO, Steve Jobs,
rich. He also highlighted Spotify's near $9 billion valuation:
Phil Knight is worth millions, you still bought them kicks
Spotify is nine million, they ain't say s**t."
The rapper also took on Jimmy
Iovine, the head of the Apple-owned Beats Music,
and hit out at YouTube for paying artists "a tenth of what you supposed to
get":
Google dangle 'round a crazy cheque
I feel like YouTube is the biggest culprit."
I feel like YouTube is the biggest culprit."
Ironic twist
However, in an ironic twist, a video
of the performance was pirated and ended up on Google's YouTube, underlining
one of the challenges Tidal could face in its efforts to offer exclusive
content.
When Tidal launched in March, global
superstars such as Beyoncé and Madonna backed the platform, leading
to claims that it was just a club for already-rich artists.
Jay-Z said he started Tidal so
artists would be better paid - something Spotify and YouTube have been
criticized for not doing.
Tidal faces a number of challenges,
however, including trying to capture users quickly, compete on price, and
prevent content being pirated.
But Jay-Z – or Hov as he is also
referred to – ended this weekend's freestyle with a defiant tone against his
detractors:
Spending millions on media tryin' to confuse you
I had to talk to myself 'Hov, you used to it'
It's politics as usual."
CNBC
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