Tidal
Market: 60+ countries
Overview
Tidal is a premium music streaming service known for its high-resolution audio quality and its comprehensive credits system. It streams lossless FLAC and Hi-Res FLAC audio (up to 24-bit/192kHz), along with Dolby Atmos. Tidal also provides editorial curation, playlisting, and the TIDAL RISING program for emerging artists.
Market / Platform Focus
Operating in over 60 countries, Tidal caters to listeners who value superior sound quality and curated music experiences. Its audience includes audiophiles, hi-fi enthusiasts and serious music fans.
Yes — LabelGrid delivers your releases to TIDAL. Distribution is included on every distribution plan, from Solo up, for record labels, distributors, and independent artists alike.
TIDAL AT A GLANCE
- Typical go-live: timing varies by platform — submit at least 2 weeks ahead.
- Audio accepted: WAV or 16-bit FLAC for HiFi (Lossless, 16-bit/44.1 kHz); 24-bit WAV, up to 192 kHz, for Max (HiRes) — FLAC is accepted at 16-bit only.
- HiRes FLAC & Dolby Atmos: HiRes served as open-source FLAC (no MQA needed since July 2024); native Dolby Atmos supported with a stereo fallback.
- Territory: 60+ countries.
- Artist profile: claim and verify via TIDAL Artist Home; via-distributor verification is the fastest route.
- Royalties: tracked in LabelGrid’s royalty accounting with automated splits from the Basic plan up.
LABELGRID
LabelGrid Integration
LabelGrid delivers your music to Tidal in high-quality formats that preserve audio fidelity. We review your release before delivery and deliver it in the format TIDAL accepts, and a native 24-bit WAV master makes a release eligible for Tidal’s Max (HiRes) tier.
Getting Started
To release music on Tidal via LabelGrid, prepare your audio, artwork, and metadata according to our specifications, select Tidal as a distribution partner when scheduling your release, and we’ll review your release and deliver it to Tidal.
LabelGrid provides the tools you need beyond distribution: catalog management for your metadata and releases, royalty accounting with automated artist statements from the Basic plan up, and promotion tools including smart links and Spotify pre-saves.
TIDAL delivery specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Audio formats accepted | WAV or 16-bit FLAC for HiFi (Lossless, 16-bit/44.1 kHz); 24-bit WAV (44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz) for Max (HiRes) — TIDAL classes anything above 16-bit/44.1 kHz as HiRes; FLAC is accepted at 16-bit only; deliver the highest-quality native source, never upsample |
| Lossless / HiRes support | Yes — HiFi Lossless FLAC (16-bit/44.1 kHz) and Max HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz; open-source FLAC, no MQA encoding needed since July 2024 |
| Spatial audio / Dolby Atmos | Yes — ADM BWF master (Dolby Atmos Renderer), 24-bit/48 kHz, -18 LUFS / -1 dBTP, native mix only, stereo fallback required (no upmixes) |
| Artwork requirements | 3000×3000 px minimum, 1:1 square, JPG/JPEG/PNG, sRGB, up to 30 MB; no promo text, URLs, or misleading imagery |
| Metadata required | ISRC per track (12-character), UPC (12–13 digits), (P) and (C) copyright lines, accurate explicit flag; credits recommended (songwriter, production, musician, misc — complete all four for maximum visibility) |
| Territory / availability | 60+ countries (see TIDAL’s current availability list) |
| Monetization model | Subscription streaming (high-fidelity tiers); royalties tracked in LabelGrid accounting with automated splits from the Basic plan up |
| Artist-profile linking | TIDAL Artist Home — claim, verify, and manage your profile (via-distributor verification is fastest) |
| Release scheduling | Standard releases go live at midnight local time per country |
| Typical go-live after submission | Timing varies by platform; HiRes classification may take an extra 24–48 h after ingestion |
| Delivery method | Feed delivery by LabelGrid |
Specifications reflect LabelGrid’s delivery requirements for TIDAL (the artwork minimum and file-size cap are LabelGrid limits) — requirements change, confirm current specs.
How long until my release is live on TIDAL?
Timing varies by platform. LabelGrid processes and reviews your release, then delivers the release to TIDAL, which ingests and publishes it. HiRes classification can take an extra 24–48 hours after ingestion. Planning a specific release date? Submit at least 2 weeks ahead — standard releases go live at midnight local time per country.
Related: music distribution · royalty accounting · automated royalty splits · pricing · compare distributors · LabelGrid for labels · TIDAL help article
WHY TIDAL
Artist Benefits
Distributing to Tidal offers access to a quality-conscious audience and higher estimated per-stream payouts than many DSPs. The platform’s editorial team and its TIDAL RISING artist program can help raise an artist’s profile. Estimate your Tidal earnings with our free royalty calculator.
Key Features
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High-resolution and lossless audio streaming
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TIDAL RISING artist program with editorial pitching
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Higher estimated per-stream rates than many platforms
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Curated playlists and editorial features
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Available in over 60 countries
DEEP DIVE
What You Should Know About Tidal
Platform Scale & Reach
Tidal is a premium music streaming service available in 60+ countries, known for audiophile-grade sound quality and one of the most comprehensive credits systems in music streaming.
Per-Stream Rates
Industry estimates put Tidal at roughly $0.008 to $0.015 per stream, the highest range among the major streaming platforms. Tidal does not publish an official rate, and what you earn depends on where your listeners are and which plans they pay for. Estimate your Tidal earnings with our free royalty calculator.
Tidal's Audience
Tidal's audience is built around audiophiles, hi-fi enthusiasts and serious music fans. Artists whose fans care about sound quality, and who deliver high-resolution masters, are best placed to benefit.
Audio Quality
Tidal streams lossless FLAC (CD quality, 16-bit/44.1kHz) and Hi-Res FLAC (up to 24-bit/192kHz). Tidal also supports Dolby Atmos spatial audio. The platform attracts audiophile listeners who value sound quality. Delivering native 24-bit WAV masters makes your music eligible for Tidal's Max (HiRes) tier; never upsample a 16-bit master.
Tips for Success on Tidal
- Deliver 24-bit WAV masters to maximize quality on Tidal's Hi-Res FLAC tier
- Tidal's audience values audio quality, so present your releases thoughtfully
- Take advantage of Tidal's higher estimated per-stream rates by promoting your Tidal links alongside other platforms
- Join TIDAL RISING to pitch releases to Tidal's editorial team via Artist Home
- Encourage your most loyal fans to follow you on Tidal
- For detailed delivery guidelines, see our Tidal distribution guide
RESOURCES
Tidal Resources
Official tools, portals, and documentation for Tidal.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Try LabelGrid?
Try LabelGrid free for 7 days, then distribute to Tidal and all major platforms. Published pricing, no charge until the trial ends.