WiMP is a music streaming service available on mobile devices, tablets, network players and computers. WiMP offered music and podcasts for users to listen to. WiMP also offered a HiFi-product with FLAC/ALAC.[1]
History
WiMP was developed by Aspiro AB and the Norwegian music store chain Platekompaniet AS. It was first launched in Norway in February 2010.
On January 30, 2015,[2][3] it was announced that Aspiro AB had been acquired by Project Panther Bidco Ltd., which is indirectly owned by S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.[4] The company was controlled by Shawn Corey Carter, better known by his stage name, Jay-Z. Aspiro AB was sold for 464 million SEK, which is about €50 million or US$56 million. However, WiMP would later merge with Tidal under the Tidal name.[5]
Cost and availability
WiMP was funded by paid subscriptions such as music fees and subscriptions. As of 2012,[6] WiMP is available in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Poland.[7]
The service is also available in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg,[8] France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Turkey,[9] where it is known as Tidal;[10] and emphasizes the high-fidelity lossless mode, but the other modes, "High" and "Normal", are also available. Tidal claims to have 80 million tracks.
WiMP gives access to a music library of some 25 million tracks. WiMP has local editors in each country it operates, to present the local and international music and in-app magazines also available online. WiMP also offers music videos, so far available in the Android-client.[11]