So wait… Tidal integrates with an open source media system, but not with Plex anymore? I’m trying to wrap my mind around this info, especially given that Plex has not stated why Tidal is cutting them off. Surely Tidal gave Plex a reason, and it’s looking more like Plex might not want to admit that they did something to make Tidal angry.
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I’m really disappointed in the lack of forthright communication about why Tidal is being pulled from Plex. I asked twice in the Fireside Chat and was ignored. Usually @elan comments on this kind of stuff, but other than a couple of things that he said on reddit, I haven’t seen anything from him about it here on the Plex forums.
This whole thing seems really fishy since Tidal has clearly stated to me and other users that this only affects Plex, and not other services such as Audirvana, Roon, or Tidal Connect.
I have invested a lot of time into Plexamp, including dozens of hours that I spent writing, improving, and sharing a python script to help me import playlists generated by ChatGPT, match the tracks to my local library and Tidal, and upload the playlist to my Plex server. Now that’s all down the toilet.
Surely Tidal gave a reason why they’re removing Plex’s access to their API?
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A source for online music is certainly needed for Plex. Fewer people buy CDs these days so it’s really important. One difference between the others and Plex is the billing. Sonos, roon, volumio, LMS etc only hook into the database and grab the url. LMS for sure is somewhat plain on tidal, but functional. Their version of auto dj will pull tracks from tidal, but i haven’t used it lately, so take that as a maybe. It works with pretty much all the services and is free and I think open source. It’s been around forever do it’s really stable. Great support network and lots of plugins to extend itself. Your script would work well. It will definitely use a mixed local and tidal playlist. Sound quality is excellent. It was my first media server, so I’ve always kept it around and I use it occasionally. It’s likeable, the materials skin is reasonably modern. Android clients are plain but work well. iOS ones are prettier I think. Good luck. Thanks for creating the script. I’ll give it a go. I’m lazy though, so I like the select 1 track model.
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there’s not much to say, they have their priorities and road map and unfortunately they wanted to make some changes in terms of the integrations they wanted to support going forward. there’s no big mystery or conspiracy.
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Thanks for the reply. I believe you, but the situation is a bit odd since it seems like Plex was doing all the work to integrate Tidal into your product (compared to say, Tidal maintaining an app for Samsung TVs)… and Tidal is the one who is likely to lose $$$ over this (unless there’s some aspect of the arrangement that was costing Tidal resources to support Plex specifically). I don’t see how allowing Plex to access the Tidal API is any different than any other company that uses it. Oh well.
I’ll stick around and hope that you guys can bring another streamer on board to fill the gap. I thought about going back to Roon, but I tried it again after a 2 year hiatus and their UI, radio stations, and backend algorithms still suck compared to Plexamp.
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Elan,
There is absolutely no conspiracy but let us assess our situation here. Plex endpoint/device integrations for music are not as many as our next competition. To top it, now the only online music service goes away. That leaves all the Plex subscribers who are here predominantly for music with a big void. This, to a certain extent, also defeats the idea of a dedicated music only frontend like Plexamp.
Earlier Plex representative on this forum did not take the constructive criticisms well, but I am sure you would. Due to limited Plex endpoints, Tidal may not have a lot to loose, but we do.
Is there anything us subscribers can do? Would a nominal temp subscription top-up to have tidal continue, work? We can figure out an alternate integration in the meantime.
I’m not sure how you’d conclude that 
It’s still a great player for your own music, that’s how it was for quite some time before we added TIDAL.
I was one of the people who used TIDAL for discovery via my collection. But it won’t stop me from discovering new music, much as I get lots of stuff on Bandcamp too, which isn’t integrated into Plexamp.
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Plexamp is still good but the way we consume music is changing.
Do you have any plan to replace Tidal with another streaming service in Plexamp? Like Qobuz or Spotify?
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Its not rocket science: The lawsuit laid bare some of TIDAL’s financial issues, including multimillion-dollar losses for 10 straight quarters; some $127 million in liabilities, largely in the form of unpaid streaming fees to record labels; and a $50 million loan that Jay-Z extended the company in 2020.Dec 8, 2023
And with many corporations reporting RECORD losses this year! They are just getting their ducks in a row! Before the implosion!
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Is a new integration something that you guys are looking at? Or is this completely off the table for now?
Elan mentioned elsewhere that he’s looking into how to bring discovery features back but nothing to announce for the time being. So I’m guessing that if there is any integration coming, we won’t hear about it until contracts are all signed, and it probably won’t be anytime soon.
Yeah, just my experience. I’m using Plexamp for long now but got bored a bit by my own music library. Tidal-Integration, I actually just decided to use, was perfect for me.
Plus, the Tidal-Player does not even have a usable remote operation. The one thing I need as my stereo’s source is a stand-alone computer.
Too bad, (it seems) Tidal does not value the passionate music lovers Plex users are.
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I respect your careful statements, but do not appreciate the tone behind this. People are really frustrated, esp. because for us users this all unfolds in just a few weeks. Not much time to wrap our heads around it, don’t you think?
So most of us are not (yet) in the mood for a cool-headed engineering or business perspective. I just hopped on the waggon (happily) to find that its destination is a dead end.
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I use Plexamp as a hi-res player for MY music library, so don’t assume those who use Plex for music do so because of Tidal. This is a clear example why you DON’T rely on streaming services for your content (music, movies TV etc). Plexamp is great because of its features and player, not because of Tidal.
Well go scream at Tidal as this couldn’t have been reversed by Plex, this is something that Tidal decided to do so not sure why Plex should get any heat for a decision they had no control over?
Build a big enough music library so that you don’t need streaming services. That’s the only real solution if you want to assure you have access to the music you listen to regardless of which streaming service goes down.
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10ish years ago, I started with Google Music (RIP) primarily for the uploaded library + streaming library seamlessly in one app. It felt like a gut-punch when Google Music pulled the plug and rebranded as YouTube Music without maintaining the features l had become reliant on.
When I discovered the PlexAmp + Tidal integration, it almost replaced my experience with Google Music. As a lifetime Plex-Pass user, I decided to subscribe to Tidal solely for the integration with Plexamp and the perception that it was a way to help support Plex financially (assuming that Tidal gave Plex a kickback for selling Tidal subscriptions, maybe that wasn’t how that worked).
Now that I am free to cancel my Plex/Tidal subscription, I will. Tidal is the loser here, apparently my money wasn’t good enough for them.
I love love Plex, and Plexamp is one of the best things to come out of Plex Labs so far. I will explore any future music backend subscription that you can integrate with Plexamp, even if that’s a Plex-powered Music Streaming Service (Hint-Hint).
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The issue is music discovery. How are you going to build a library containing music you’ve never heard of?
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That’s what I don’t understand. Was there some aspect of the arrangement with Plex that caused Tidal to lose money? I mean granted, Tidal will probably only lose a few thousand subscribers over this debacle… but money is money. If Tidal was making revenue from Plex users, why change things?
The people at Tidal must have VERY good reasons for risking (and probably losing) Plex customers! Because they know this will happen! I mean, you don’t have to be a scientist to choose between “my personal” music and the sea of “anonymous” music!
So, I guess most Plex-Tidal integration disillusioned lovers are now focusing on kissing Tidal goodbye… (kissing Tidal goodbye)
Then they will think about “music discovery”… or Plex will come to the rescue again and pull the rabbit out of the hat!
Rather easily. You don’t have to be subscribed to a streaming service to discover new music. You’ve got tons of dedicated music websites and blogs for that. I discover new music all the time without the need of a streaming service. And have thousands of artist/albums/songs in my library that I have never listened to.
But Plexamp has many clever ways of helping you discover songs and tracks from your library that you never would’ve thought about listening to without the need for tidal.
Never rely on algorithms and streaming to discover new music, or else you’ll be completely lost when the inevitable end comes. 10 years from now I would be shocked if Tidal even exist as a streaming service.
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To those who believe they don’t need Tidal and can rely solely on their personal music library, it’s important to recognize that we live in an economy that favors ecosystems over discrete components. Our music listening consists of a platform (like Plex), content (both our own music and online services), and devices (endpoints). While Plex is a great platform, it falls short in the latter two areas.
If this was not important there wouldn’t be such extensive discussions about Plex’s struggles with Tidal. Please remember, Tidal is pulling only out of Plex so it can’t be a one sided story.
Plex team, pls don’t do a Kodak for yourself and for us . Listen to our voices and give us confidence that we still matter. The writing is on the wall, gentlemen.
