Jay-Z co-founded the streaming service Tidal. The platform was originally launched in 2014 by the Norwegian technology company Aspiro, then became closely associated with Jay-Z after he led a group of artists that acquired Aspiro in 2015.
Tidal was promoted as an artist-focused alternative to mainstream streaming platforms. Its early identity emphasized higher-quality audio, exclusive releases, and better compensation for musicians. Jay-Z used the service to debut or promote music by himself and other major artists, helping make Tidal a significant part of the streaming-era music business.
A common mix-up is saying that Jay-Z created Tidal from scratch. More precisely, he became its owner and public champion through the Aspiro acquisition, then helped relaunch and expand it under the Tidal name. The service has also been associated with exclusive releases from artists including Beyoncé, Kanye West, and Rihanna.