Great news for those who arenât subscribed to Tidal: Jay Zâs 4:44 album is now available on multiple streaming services.
Though the highly anticipated project received praise from fans and critics alike, many expressed their disappointment with its limited access. 4:44 dropped exclusively on Jayâs streaming service Tidal and the only way to legally download it was with a subscription.
A lot of that frustration was temporarily eased this week, when it was announced that non-subscribers could download the album for free via Tidal; however, that option was quickly taken down. It seems fans who wanted to get their hands on 4:44 the legal way could only hope for the albumâs physical release or a rollout on other services. Well, we now know theyâre getting both.
As originally reported by HipHop-N-More, Tidalâs seven-day exclusivity officially ended Thursday nightâexactly one week after 4:44 dropped. This meant the album would hit competing services like Apple Music, making it much more accessible to Hovâs fanbase.
In addition to garnering critical acclaim, the project has also become a commercial success. Despite its Tidal exclusivity, 4:44 was able to go platinum within a week. It was a huge and incredibly surprising milestone, as even the most hyped albums take weeks and months to earn a platinum certification. How did it rack in so many purchases so fast? Well, according to a Billboard report, Sprintâs partnership with Tidal played a huge role.
Shortly after the album dropped, Sprint costumers were offered a free 4:44 download by simply using the promo code âSprintâ; however, the downloads werenât exactly free. The wireless company had actually bought digital copies of the album and then offered them to its costumers without any cost. Sprintâs purchases were enough to boost 4:44 to platinum certification. Itâs a move similar to the one Jay pulled in 2013, when he sold Samsung one million copies of Magna Carta Holy Grail.
For those who prefer to consume their music the old-school way, physical copies of 4:44 will hit shelves tomorrow. The physical version will also include three bonus tracks: âMaNyfaCedGodâ featuring James Blake, âBlue's Freestyle / We Family,â and the previously teased track âAdnis.â
4:44 can now be streamed on Apple Music and purchased on iTunes. If you want to secure a physical copy, you can pre-order a CD now at Best Buy's wesbite.Â