Qobuz launches the first high-fidelity streaming and downloading service of its kind in Japan

High-definition subscription music streaming service Qobuz has announced the launch of a music streaming service in Japan.

The streaming service will join forces with Qobuz’s existing high-definition music download service in the country to offer a “first-of-its-kind” music streaming and downloading platform.

The superlative “first of its kind” probably refers to the combination of streaming and downloads, as this isn’t the first HD streaming service to come to the Japanese market. Amazon Music offers its HD service in the country and Sony Music Entertainment Japan operated a high-definition music streaming service called more qualityuntil the service is discontinued in 2022.

Japan’s music consumption market is somewhat unusual in that streaming has made relatively little progress while physical music continues to sell well. Qobuz sees this as an opportunity.

“While streaming dominates the global music market with over 67% In terms of sales, Japan represents a unique landscape where the physical market still accounts for a majority 50% of sales,” the France-based company said in a statement on Thursday (October 24).

“Paid streaming while we’re lagging behind with less than 30% Market share (compared to over 50% in other major markets) is showing remarkable growth in a country where supply remains limited and dominated by a few large players.

“Japanese music lovers, known for their high demands on sound quality, are an ideal audience for Qobuz’s high-quality offering.”

Qobuz started as a digital music store in 2007 and was acquired by Xandrie SA in 2015. Its high-definition streaming service expanded to 26 countries, including the UK and Germany in 2014 and the US in 2019.

Expansion into new markets accelerated after some time 11 million dollars Financing round in 2020.

“Japanese music lovers, known for their high demands on sound quality, are an ideal audience for Qobuz’s high-quality offering.”

Qobuz

The service made its first foray into the Japanese market in 2021 when it was purchased e-onkyoa digital music download store operated by an electronics manufacturer Onkyo Corporation.

The expansion into streaming in Japan “marks an important turning point and brings us closer to our goal of profitability.” “We are proud to offer Japanese music lovers a valuable music experience that combines exceptional sound quality, editorial richness and musical discovery,” he said deputy CEO of Qobuz Georges Fornay said.

“This expansion into the world’s second-largest music market, where streaming is booming, comes at an ideal time and strengthens our position as the undisputed benchmark for high-quality streaming and downloading.”

Qobuz offers “uncompressed, uncompromised” audio quality from 16 bit (CD quality) to 24 bit/up to 192 kHz and now also DXD and DSD.

“This expansion into the world’s second-largest music market, where streaming is booming, comes at an ideal time and strengthens our position as the undisputed benchmark for high-quality streaming and downloading.”

Georges Fornay, Qobuz

A big advantage for high-resolution music streaming services like Qobuz is that the dominant music streamer, Spotifyhas not yet entered the high-fidelity audio realm.

That could soon change, however, as Spotify’s upcoming “super-premium” tier is widely expected to include high-resolution audio, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

During an earnings conference call in July, Spotify’s CEO said Daniel Ek said the service’s subscribers can expect “much higher quality across the board” at the new subscription tier.Music business worldwide