Jay Z’s streaming service Tidal is sidestepping into the TV industry: the music subscription service is expanding to include original scripted and unscripted programming, including a drama and comedy series.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tidal has ordered two new series – No Small Talk, a stand-up comedy show hosted by DJ Cipha Sounds and the second series of Brooklyn-based drama Money & Violence, after its first season launched on YouTube. Each episode of No Small Talk will profile three up and coming comedians performing at Manhattan’s Comedy Cellar.
“I didn’t want it to feel polished like the stand-up specials you see on TV,” Cipha added. “My goal is to help new guys get known, like Def Comedy Jam set up a lot of people’s careers.”
These additional ventures on Tidal join a number of short films and past live-streams featured on the platform, as well as over 35 million songs and 86,000 music videos.
Tim Riley, Tidal’s senior VP artist and label relations, said this new strategy would to enhance the service’s value to subscribers, as well as creating a new outlet for creatives to showcase their work. “If someone is paying for Tidal, we want that to be the best experience they can have,” he said
Tidal – which has been backed by the likes of Daft Punk, Jack White and Madonna – was launched in late March, but has seen subsequent shake ups since its start, including two of its CEOs leaving the company.
