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[JimH]

From whathifi.com:

"MQA Ltd, the company behind the MQA digital music technology, is going into administration.

"We don't have many details at the moment, and it's uncertain if the firm's partnership with Tidal – which uses MQA technology to enable its 'hi-res' audio streams – will be affected. But we do know that MQA Ltd is seeking a buyer and has undergone a restructuring process.

"The full statement from MQA reads as follows: "

"Following the recent positive reception to MQA’s latest technology (SCL6), there has been increased international interest in buying MQA Ltd. At the same time, MQA’s main financial backer is seeking an exit. In order to be in the best position to pursue market opportunities and expedite this process, the company has undergone a restructuring initiative, which includes entering into administration and is comparable to Chapter 11 in the US.

https://www.whathifi.com/news/mqa-is-going-into-administration

[dtc]

It is a little complicated. MQA may want to sell off part of the company (MQAir - now SLC6). MQA tried to get MQair integrated into Bluetooth but failed. Hence MQAir may not be successfully for MQA and they want to sell it. To sell SLC6 they have to go through Administration, which is like bankruptcy in the US. Once SLC6 is sold, then the core MQA would be the main product. After MQAir was rejected by Bluetooth, one of the major investors resigned from the Board and is probably pulling their funding out the company.  Tidal is a major supporter of MQA and may want to buy them.

This is a somewhat complicated development but does not necessarily indicate that the core MQA technology will disappear, especially with Tidal's interest in it. MQA Tidal is owned by Square, a mobile payments company.

https://www.ecoustics.com/news/mqa-bankruptcy/

[syndromeofadown]

If MQA bankrupt, who will fold the music?

It appears Tidal is going hi res flac which looks like it will replace their MQA. I have noticed much less MQA DACs as of recent which is a sign that customers do not care about it. It was likely consumer demand that fueled the little surge in MQA dacs a while back. I have still never heard MQA, and suspect I never will.

[EnglishTiger]

MQA is owned by Square, a mobile payments company.

It's Tidal that is owned by Square not MQA

[dtc]

It's Tidal that is owned by Square not MQA

Correct. My careless mistake. Square owns Tidal and there is speculation that they will also buy MQA. Corrected text above.

Thanks.

[jmone]

Tidal is now offering Lossless FLAC.  Much better idea than MQA.

[dtc]

Tidal has offered flac for a long time. Are you saying they are adding new titles in flac and not in MQA?

Edit :  Tidal announced this week that they will offer high resolution lossless content which previously has been only offered in MQA. So, it seems like the change is to offer high resolution lossless content. No comment on winding down MQA, but that would be the assumption.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/tidal-hi-res-lossless/

MQA was predicated on offering high resolution content over a limited bandwidth distribution system. But, with the bandwidth available today, its value proposition does not offer much to most people.