In order to compete with Apple and Spotify, something had to happen. Tidal has sold a one-third stake in its business to US mobile operator Sprint. Sprint paid an estimated $200 million for their share in the digital streaming service. The transaction will give 45 million Sprint customers access to Tidal and “exclusive artist content” not yet made public. Jay Z purchased Tidal for $56 million in January 2015. He later relaunched the service with his industry friends as part owners. Beyonce, Madonna, Kanye West, Usher, and others became high-profile investors of Tidal. However, Tidal has continued to struggle with subscribers, in which the claim of 3 million subbies are even debated. Apple and Spotify, collectively, have over 60 million subbies alone. Sprint chief executive, Marcelo Claure, will join Tidal’s board, while Jay Z and the company’s other artist-owners will continue to run the business, Sprint said in a statement.
