Amazon rolls out HD streaming

[Antonmb]

This FB post from Jeff Dorgay/Tone Audi today - I feel the same way:

“So, are you really going to bail on Qobuz - USA for $5/month? I'm not. I'd rather see the little guys get ahead. Amazon has enough of a monopoly on everything else.

As someone who used to spend $100s a month on music, the $60/year i'd save going to Amazon is one dinner a year out. I'm sticking with Qobuz.”

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by bart

Marc, you might be right.
I'm even surprised Tidal or Qobuz aren't bought yet by one of the major players (Apple, Amazon).

Same for Roon. Won't be surprised if one of the major players (as in deep pockets) doesn't also end up with Roon.

[JMD]

Tidal's already partially owned by the Chinese conglomerate that owns Sprint and at some point they will make a move to take over control or force a sale.

[For The Love of Music]

I view Tidal and Qobuz as the only options with Qobuz being my preferred choice.

[W9TR]

I look at this from an economics perspective. Tidal and Qobuz are not yet profitable.

Even Spotify with 100 milllion customers is losing money. This from Spotify's Q2 earnings report:

"Operating Losses totaled €3 million yielding an Operating Margin of (0.2%)"

BTW that's better than they have ever done, and most of their revenue comes from the paid premium service.

Tidal and Qobuz are privately held, so finaniclas are opaque. But in my view they are financial time bombs.

Amazon has a massive global web hosting capability - arguably the largest. AWS also accounts for most of their profits. Their infrastructure costs for storage and egress (streaming) are going to be lower than Tidal and Qobuz by a wide margin.

Amazon has the infrastructure and financial power to prevail. That's if the content owners will play ball with them, which I suspect they will.

Having worked with Amazon Alexa - they will publish all the API's needed for Roon to access thier service, and they will help them get going, but it will be up to Roon to do all the work required to integrate Amazon Music HD into their platform.

Like a character in Game of Thrones, I wouldn't get too attached to your favorite streaming service just yet.

Tom

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Still-One

It is highly unlikely that Amazon will allow Roon to integrate their offerings with our files so no matter what the price is I will stick with Roon/Tidal.

Why do you say that, Jim?

[mtrot]

As an existing Amazon Unlimited Music subscriber, this was a bit of a no-brainer for me, only will cost me an additional $5/month after my free three month trial.

Currently listening to Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6/Currentzi Music Aeterna at 24/96 quality.

They also have my favorite classical recording in 24/96, which is the 1971 Holst-The Planets/Los Angeles Philharmonic with Zubin Mehta conducting.

[bodiezaffa]

What about Canada???