For those who aren’t yet up to speed, Jack White is a co-owner of streaming service Tidal, which was launched by rap mogul Jay Z earlier this year and has since been weathering a storm of criticism from across the music industry. This week, the White Stripe has hosed down some of those criticisms via a quasi-FAQ, which has been posted to his Third Man Records’ website.
Quasi, because no one seems to know who the fans are who submitted the questions or, indeed, how they were able to submit them. But, nonetheless, White has responded to their mysterious queries with some #tidalfacts of his very own.
“You’ve got questions and comments about TIDAL, and Jack White has answers…” the singer-songwriter’s website proclaims. Below are White’s top defences on:
Tidal being ‘elitist’
What is elitist about it? Who’s speaking for the little guy?
Tidal being more expensive than Spotify:
How much did you pay for that last movie you saw at the theater? And how much did that movie cost to make? Don’t devalue musicians man, support them. Making records is expensive, believe us, I don’t see people saying we should go to the movies for free, or Netflix should be free. that state of music is in flux, be on the side of supporting creativity, not taking from it. this gives you that chance.
Tidal’s Plan To Support Independent Artists:
I’m aiming to get unknown artists paid so that they can make more music…
Unknown musicians don’t have a voice being heard, i want those artists to make a living at being artists so more great music can happen…
Lots of ideas, but you KNOW I’m all for independent artists getting heard.
His Decision To Team Up With Other Big-Name Artists To Launch Tidal:
We spent all last night talking and discussing ways to make it very cool. Here’s the shocker: musicians want you to hear their music in the best ways possible. We mix on very nice speakers and systems only to have 90% of it be heard on tiny components that cut out half the information
Tidal Being A Cash-Grab By Jay Z:
A streaming service owned by artists is the first step, it’s not about the rich getting richer. it takes artists that can get peoples attention to be able to make a scenario possible for those artists that don’t have a voice to get in a position where they aren’t struggling, and believe me third man records is full of artists the mainstream’s never heard of and have no voice or power in the system. have you heard of Rachelle Garnier? what about the Smoke Fairies? Drakar Sauna? Pujol? The Gories?
Those are just some of the up and coming artists on third man that try to make a living in music. And if you stream their songs… they get paid for it. And they get to LIVE and not take second jobs….and make MORE music! I support keeping musicians you love in business. We want a full third man roster page on tidal that you can stream hundreds of records on, and each time that artist gets something. that’s a beautiful thing.
And also… do we tell Steven Spielberg we don’t need to pay him anymore to watch his movies? He’s made enough off of us right? He should show his new films for free right? haha
His Personal Music Listening Habits
Digital in the car, Vinyl in the bedroom, baby
Watch: Tidal – End The Suffering
Watch: Jack White – Would You Fight For My Love?
