Music Streamers in 2025 (and Beyond)

At the start of a new year, it’s always a good time to reflect and speculate a bit. So, let’s take a look at the future of music streamers in 2025.

Interestingly, it was the audiophile favorite Tidal that made headlines in 2024 for its pricing strategy—in a positive way. Despite bundling all features, including the highest audio quality, into a single subscription tier, Tidal also managed to lower its price. Meanwhile, mainstream giant Spotify went in the opposite direction, raising prices multiple times over the past year. This is despite still only offering lossy streams, with the long-promised lossless tier now bordering on mythical status.

Spotify has also been pushing podcasts and audiobooks, but this hasn’t resonated with many music lovers. While podcasts may perform decently in the U.S., elsewhere—particularly through a music streaming platform—they’ve yet to gain traction.

Can Spotify Keep Up?

This raises an important question: how long can Spotify maintain its dominance in the universe of music streamers? It’s worth noting that the platform only posted its first-ever profit last year. And with alternatives like Tidal Connect and the rumored Qobuz Connect gaining traction, Spotify’s once-exclusive appeal through Spotify Connect is waning.

Qobuz, for its part, continues to march to its own beat, prioritizing quality over quantity. The service is particularly beloved by audiophiles, especially fans of curated jazz and classical selections, though it also offers a substantial catalog of mainstream music.

Will 2025 Be Tidal’s Year?

For serious music enthusiasts, Tidal—with its sharp pricing and lossless streaming—feels like the logical subscription choice. Qobuz remains the go-to for connoisseurs who appreciate carefully curated genres, while Apple Music continues to dominate classical music offerings, thanks to its acquisition of Primephonic.

Spotify, by contrast, is beginning to feel increasingly irrelevant. In terms of music selection, Tidal matches (or exceeds) Spotify’s offerings, all while delivering better audio quality and lower prices. Could 2025 finally be the year of Tidal? Only time will tell, but the pieces seem to be falling into place.