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What is the hardware physically behind Tidal, Spotify, QoBuz?

Dear Late Night Audiogoners,

I'm calling into the show tonight because I was wondering something you may know about.  What the hardware (and software) look like that allow streaming services to operate. 

Are we talking massive server rooms?  

Is there a physical process involved in getting music into a format to store for streaming?  Do the record companies need to transfer a digital file to the service for streaming? 

-Curious in Chicago
jbhiller

Showing 2 responses by lowrider57

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
I can answer part of your question. Record labels and artists send an audio file to the streaming service. The service then pays the copyright holder a fee based on the amount the song or album is played.
They make money by selling the different subscription packages.

Tidal pays artists the highest rate in royalties because the service is owned by a group of recording artists. Each service is vying to get the music first. 


lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Tidal, Qobuz, etc. would need to lease a data center which may be a building full of servers or a huge campus with multiple buildings.
These facilities may have clients such as internet companies and government transfering data at the same time.

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