Jay-Z has announced that his new album, 4:44, will be available exclusively through TIDAL on June 30th at 12:01 am ET. It’s the first in a series of exclusives being offered to the 45 million postpaid and prepaid Sprint customers and existing TIDAL members. In January, Sprint purchased a thirty-three percent stake of TIDAL for $200 million and promised to “deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience” with exclusive content from top music acts over the coming months.
New and existing Sprint customers can take advantage of the complimentary six-month trial of TIDAL HiFi at Sprint.TIDAL.com or by visiting a Sprint store. New Boost Mobile customers can subscribe during the activation process in-store or online at boostmobile.com. Existing customers can add the monthly subscription online via My Account, in store, or by phone. New TIDAL members worldwide can visit TIDAL.com/Try-now.
“Today is an exciting day to be a Sprint customer,” says Marcelo Claure, Sprint president and CEO. “Jay-Z is a global icon and we’re giving customers an incredible opportunity to be among the first to experience his new album 4:44. Our loyal, existing customers, and customers who switch to Sprint, can experience the album exclusively, plus access a complimentary six-month trial of TIDAL HiFi, giving them access to content they can’t get anywhere else.”
In addition, the TIDAL and Sprint partnership will support the 1Million Project, an initiative from Sprint and the Sprint Foundation that will connect one million low-income U.S. high school students who don’t have internet access at home to help level the playing field and eliminate the “homework gap.” Participating students will receive free mobile devices and free high-speed wireless internet connectivity while in high school for up to four years. Sprint will donate $2 from every new line activation with a device purchase or lease – up to $1 million – to support the 1Million Project.
News of the album’s release comes a week after Jay-Z’s wife, Beyonce Knowles, reportedly gave birth to twins in Los Angeles, and as he became the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. The album is the follow up to 2013’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. No word on how long 4:44 will be exclusive to TIDAL.
