News

Tidal Responds To Multiple Criminal Accusations They Inflate Their Numbers

By HHL JT
pixel_start

Over the past several years, the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) and Vice have found evidence JAY-Z's streaming service TIDAL massively inflated the streams of at least Beyonce's Lemonade and Kanye West's The Life Of Pablo albums, which both began as TIDAL exclusive. 

Since TIDAL pays their artists based on their percentage of TIDAL's total steams, the money that went to Beyonce and Kanye -- JAY-Z's wife and (at the time) close friend -- came directly out of the pocket of other artists. That makes the manipulation a potential crime.

Now we have word that Norwegian authorities (TIDAL was originally a Norwegian company) are looking into multiple criminal complaints of fraud against TIDAL.

Billboard reports:

The Norwegian economic and environmental crimes unit is known as ØOKOKRIM has confirmed a report by financial newspaper Dagens Næringsliv that it is investigating multiple allegations that some streaming numbers on Tidal had been manipulated.

ØOKOKRIM said it is looking into four complaints about the music streaming service's numbers, including from the collection society Tono, recording artist association GramArt and the indie label org Fono. "It has been made known through media coverage that the reviews relate to... a suspicion that someone has manipulated the number of plays of some songs," the authorities said, via translation.

TIDAL has responded to the criminal investigation.

Tidal is not a suspect in the investigation," a rep said in a statement. "We are communicating with Økokrim. From the very beginning, DN has quoted documents that they have not shared with us in spite of repeated requests. DN has repeatedly made claims based on information we believe may be falsified. We are aware that at least one person we suspected of theft has been questioned. We cannot comment further at this time."

pixel_end
Posted In: News Jay Z

Discuss

News The Woman That Drake & Future Are Said To Be Fighting Over Speaks Out The Woman That Drake & Future Are Said To Be Fighting Over Speaks Out / News News Joyner Lucas Explains All He Has To Go Through To Get Eminem On The Phone Joyner Lucas Explains All He Has To Go Through To Get Eminem On The Phone / News News Two Major Figures Unfollow Drake Amid Beef With Future and Kendrick Lamar Two Major Figures Unfollow Drake Amid Beef With Future and Kendrick Lamar / News News Wack 100 Speaks On Diddy Meek Mill 'Tapes' Wack 100 Speaks On Diddy Meek Mill 'Tapes' / News News 50 Cent's Baby Mama And Yung Miami accused Of Working As Prostitutes For Diddy 50 Cent's Baby Mama And Yung Miami accused Of Working As Prostitutes For Diddy / News News Drake Warns Adin Ross About Sexyy Red Drake Warns Adin Ross About Sexyy Red / News