Tidal Music AS (Tidal) has announced that users “will no longer be able to access music in the MQA or 360 Reality Audio formats via any TIDAL application or integration.” So that’s that…MQA is done and gone…as of July 24, 2024. The company says it will replace all MQA tracks with “the highest quality FLAC version” available.
See more on Tidal eliminating MQA from its service
This news from Tidal was not much of a surprise, the company announced a year ago it was introducing high-resolution lossless FLAC files as its preferred top hi-res format – pushing MQA aside. Since that time, the company has been diligently replacing MQA tracks with the FLAC equivalent. It became clear that this was a matter of “when”…and not “if”…MQA would be fully deleted by the service.
The news of TIDAL choosing FLAC files in place of MQA files for its preferred hi-res format had to hurt MQA, as Tidal was one of its biggest success stories – a secondary but significant streaming service that for years touted MQA as its highest resolution format. Shortly after this, MQA entered into “Administration” in the U.K. which is similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy here in the U.S.
Lenbrook Acquired Select MQA Assets in Fall 2023
In the fall of 2023, Canada’s Lenbrook acquired select assets from MQA out of administration, and several of its employees were hired. Just a few days ago, Lenbrook – under its Lenbrook Media Group business unit – announced that it has partnered with HDtracks, a high-quality music download service, to develop a streaming service “aimed squarely at discerning music fans.”
Not too much is known yet about this service, but the partners say it will be “the first subscription service using a novel application of the AIRIA by MQA Labs codec.” No launch date was announced yet for this new service, but perhaps this is MQA’s last act?
Tidal Marches Forward in Hi-Res FLAC
In any event, it doesn’t appear as though Tidal, now owned by Square, is turning back, but is instead marching forward. In addition to its decision to finally eliminate all MQA titles, the streamer also announced it was dropping 360 Reality Audio, a Sony service.
Says Tidal…
For stereo sound, FLAC was chosen as the format we’ll support going forward because it is open source—meaning any artist can deliver their music in high quality directly to TIDAL without the involvement of a third party. This makes it easier for their fans to experience music in the highest possible sound quality on all their devices.
Tidal Support Document: Upcoming Changes to Audio Formats
Dolby Atmos Wins Out over Sony 360 Reality Audio
While the Sony 360 Reality Audio is also being dropped, Tidal has chosen to move forward with Dolby Atmos as its immersive audio format of choice. Why?
“Dolby Atmos was chosen as the format we will support going forward due to the number of compatible devices, catalog availability, and artist adoption of the format,” Tidal says.
The last thing you need to know is that Tidal is alerting users that it has FLAC versions to replace “nearly all MQA tracks,” but you may run into a title here or there not yet updated. Hold tight, the company says, they “…are working hard to ensure all existing MQA tracks will be replaced with a FLAC version in a timely manner.”
For More Information…
Learn more about Tidal by visiting tidal.com.
See all that Lenbrook has to offer at lenbrook.com.
Like trying to resurrect the dead. Just let MQA die an honorable death. FLAC is lossless, requires no encoding/decoding, and has no private interest payola gumming it up.
I know what Tidal says but each week new tracks/albums are being added to Tidal in MQA. It would seem if adding new releases Tidal would add them in FLAC from this point on. Not that I’m complaining but I am puzzled by this.