Looks like there are some interesting developments in music streaming. Soon after HDtracks and Lenbrook announced their plan to launch a music streaming site featuring MQA and FLAC files, TIDAL has announced that it will be dropping MQA and 360 Reality Audio from July 24. TIDAL will offer only FLAC files.
Their media release:
“On July 24, 2024, we’re replacing the music in TIDAL’s MQA catalog with FLAC versions. In addition to this change, we’re removing all podcasts and music available in 360 Reality Audio.”
There is also a Q&A section on its website https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/25876825185425-Upcoming-Changes-to-Audio-Formats
Will I still be able to access music in MQA and 360 Reality Audio on TIDAL?
No. Starting July 24, 2024, you will no longer be able to access music in the MQA or 360 Reality Audio formats via any TIDAL application or integration.
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.
For immersive sound, 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. Through our continued partnership with Dolby, we’ve given artists the opportunity to expand on their sonic vision, allowing their fans to experience their music like never before.
How will these changes impact My Collection?
MQA:
If you have an MQA track or album in your Collection – including in playlists – the track will automatically be replaced by the highest quality FLAC version that has been distributed to TIDAL.
If you have an MQA track or album downloaded for offline access, you will need to update to the latest version of the app on July 24. You will then be prompted to redownload these tracks. This will download the replacement FLAC version of any MQA track you previously downloaded.
360 Reality Audio:
If you have a 360 Reality Audio track or album in your Collection – including in a playlist or downloaded for offline access – you will see the track or album grayed out and unavailable for streaming if you try to select it.
Does TIDAL have plans to make other changes to audio format availability in the future
We have no further plans to change our audio format offerings going forward, and we remain committed to providing our subscribers with exceptional audio quality.
Are there any songs that are no longer available on TIDAL now?
While we have at least 16-bit, 44.1 kbps FLAC versions for nearly all MQA tracks today, we may not have a replacement for every single one. We are working hard to ensure all existing MQA tracks will be replaced with a FLAC version in a timely manner.
