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[JimH]

[For immediate release]

JRiver Acquires Tidal

Takes Advantage of Block Mis-steps

Minneapolis, April 1, 2025
JRiver has stunned the music business by working out a back door deal to acquire certain assets of Tidal Music, the audiophile streaming service.

Tidal was purchased by Block from Block CEO Jack Dorsey's friends, Jay-Z and Beyonce and other investors in 2021 for a reported $300 million,  Since then, Block had attempted to "right size" Tidal staff.

Block has continued to layoff people, and a late night / early morning call between Dorsey and JRiver CEO, Jim Hillegass, resulted in a quick deal.  After a few minutes on the phone and a DocuSign signing, the deal was done.

According to anonymous source, Nate Gray, the price was "less than $300 million".

JRiver plans to move the Tidal staff to Warroad, Minnesota, where, according to Hillegass, "they can enjoy the fresh air".

Dorsey was reportedly ecstatic.  "I might spend a couple weeks with the team every winter just to enjoy the weather".

Hillegass said, "I finally get this streaming thing.  It could double our user base." 

Jay-Z and Beyonce could not be reached for comment.

[craigmcg]

HA HA HA HA!

[whoareyou]

This is just mean

[Manfred]

Oh oh oh

[The Computer Audiophile]

HA!

[Manni]

Nice one

[TheShoe]

In other news, jmone was hired as CEO.  He has yet to update his signature, but we all know who has been "running the show" since April 1st, 2024.

[jmone]

In other news, jmone was hired as CEO.  He has yet to update his signature, but we all know who has been "running the show" since April 1st, 2024.

No point as Jim just changes it back!  Plus you don't want to swap one grumpy old man for another   Maybe Jim could get Jay-Z now the tidal deal is done!

[Amfibius]

I do wish you wouldn't joke about things like this. I am getting a very strong impression that JRiver will never support streaming services, ever. You are betting your business that streaming services will go away, or go under, and that consumers will go back to local playback. Other players are moving towards supporting streaming, and when you have enough competitors who are supporting a large section of the market, you will start losing market share. And JRiver losing market share is very bad not only for you, but for people like me who love MC.

[darichman]

Had me for a moment, probably due to reading on April 7th

[JimH]

I do wish you wouldn't joke about things like this. I am getting a very strong impression that JRiver will never support streaming services, ever. You are betting your business that streaming services will go away, or go under, ...

We do support streaming in many ways.  Just not the one or two you want.
Netflix and Amazon, for example. 

And I've never said that streaming will go away.  Only some companies.

In the past, we built streaming services for Best Buy, MTV, and Televisa.  If some other credible company comes along, we might do it again. 

I'll move this to a new thread.

[KingSparta]

I really hope this works out for you Jim.

[JimH]

Thanks, Mark.  It's my last chance.