The end of 2016 is (finally) upon us, and as when any year comes to a close it’s time for reflection on the 12 months that have passed. Tidal, Jay Z‘s streaming service that launched in March 2015, released several numbers touting its exclusive offerings that have appeared on its site in 2016, complete with a handy video complement.
In a year that began with an arms race of sorts between Tidal and Apple Music with regards to album exclusives (a trend that largely abated as the year went on), the streaming service boasts 32 exclusive albums that have been released on the platform this year, including the high-profile early 2016 releases of Rihanna‘s Anti, Kanye West‘s The Life of Pablo and Beyoncé‘s Lemonade. That number is boosted by the 15 Prince albums — which have since come under legal fire — posted on the late icon’s birthday in June, as well as Jay’s three Blueprint albums, which were made Tidal exclusives this March.
As Billboard reported last week, however, the music industry has largely moved away from full-album exclusives (though Tidal’s artist-owner model sets it slightly apart from many industry trends), and it’s the other exclusive offerings that, ultimately, are now defining the streamers’ competitive edge. To that end, Tidal says it has produced 39 live streams of concerts and festivals around the world; given away over 180,000 tickets to subscribers for more than 100 events; hosted more than 45 music videos and 90 behind-the-scenes videos; and offered more than 150 playlists created by artists, athletes and celebrities throughout the year.
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Notably, the release doesn’t include an updated number of subscribers on the platform. At its one-year anniversary on March 30, the service claimed three million subscribers globally, having added some 2.5 million in its first year of operation. At the time, Apple Music claimed 11 million subscribers (despite launching in June 2015), with market leader Spotify at 30 million; since then, Apple Music has grown to 20 million, while Spotify has ballooned to 40 million. Tidal hasn’t released updated numbers since March, and Billboard‘s request for an updated number was not returned as of press time.
Check out Tidal’s year-end video below, and see its editors’ picks for the best albums, songs and more right here.