2017 may end up being the year that high-res audio streaming goes mainstream.
Music technology company MQA and Universal Music Group (UMG) announced today that the companies have entered into a multiyear agreement that will encode UMG’s extensive catalog in the Hi-Res Audio format.
The announcement follows the launch of the industrywide marketing campaign “Stream the Studio,” which debuted at CES 2017, spearheaded by The DEG: the Digital Entertainment Group.
UMG’s roster of artists includes Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Adele, Lil’ Wayne, Metallica, Coldplay, Jay Z, Maroon 5 and Prince’s back catalog. That robust list should appeal to a broad audience of music fans.
Mike Jbara, CEO of MQA, commented, “We’re very pleased to be working with Universal Music to achieve our goal of moving studio-quality sound into the mainstream. Universal’s timeless catalogue and impressive artist roster will fuel music streaming services worldwide and enable the premium listening experience for all music fans.”
Michael Nash, executive VP of digital strategy at UMG, said, “The promise of Hi-Res Audio streaming is becoming a reality, with one service already in the market and several more committed to launching this year. With MQA, we are working with a partner whose technology is among the best solutions for streaming Hi-Res Audio, and one that doesn’t ask music fans to compromise on sound quality for convenience. We’re looking forward to working with Mike and his team at MQA to make our industry-leading roster of artists and recordings available to music fans in the highest quality possible.”
