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{{Lead too long|date=August 2021}}
{{Short description|Online music service}}
{{Short description|Online music service}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{For|the ancient Kazakh string instrument|Kobyz}}
{{Infobox online service
{{Infobox online service
|name = Qobuz
| name = Qobuz
|logo =
| logo = Logo qobuz 2024 black RVB.png
|image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
|launched = {{start date and age|2007|09|18}}
| type = Music service
| launched = {{start date and age|2007|09|18|df=y}}
| pricing =
| pricing =
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| availability = 25 countries
|platform = [[Mac OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]]
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| availability =
| support =
| support =
|website = {{URL|http://www.qobuz.com}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.qobuz.com/}}
}}
}}


'''Qobuz''' ({{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|k|oʊ|ˌ|b|ʌ|z}}, {{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|k|ə|ʊ|ˌ|b|ʌ|z}},<ref>{{Citation |title=Wayne Coyne (of The Flaming Lips) {{!}} How to pronounce Qobuz |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLmD_k7y25o |language=en |access-date=2022-09-19}}</ref> often stylized as '''qobuz''') is a French digital music store and streaming service, launched in 2007 by Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Qobuz – Our history and values |url=https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/about |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Qobuz |language=en}}</ref> Qobuz is now owned by Xandrie SA. In June 2023, Qobuz offers over 100 million tracks on its service.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-06-17|title=Qobuz review|url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/qobuz-review|website=TechRadar|language=en-US}}</ref>
'''Qobuz''' is a French commercial music streaming and downloading service. It was founded in 2007 by Yves Riesel, expanded to a limited range of overseas markets, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Spain,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Beuve-Méry|first1=Alain|title=Qobuz cherche à faire entendre sa voix aux côtés des grands du streaming|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2014/11/20/qobuz-cherche-a-faire-entendre-sa-voix-aux-cotes-des-grands-du-streaming_4526819_3234.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120185230/https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2014/11/20/qobuz-cherche-a-faire-entendre-sa-voix-aux-cotes-des-grands-du-streaming_4526819_3234.html|archive-date=20 November 2014|url-status=live|date=19 August 2019|work=Le Monde}} Original 20 November 2014, updated 19 August 2019.</ref> and launched in the US in May 2019. It offers a tiered subscription service and, like its competitor [[Tidal (service)|Tidal]], provides free-of-charge streaming only for a trial period.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cullingford|first1=Martin|title=The value of a recording is constantly changing|work=[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]|issue=September 2014}}</ref>


For additional subscription fees, tracks are available at CD-quality and "Hi-Res" quality (24 bits up to 192&nbsp;kHz). Individual tracks can also be purchased without any DRM restrictions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What are the different audio formats available for download? {{!}} Qobuz Help Center |url=https://help.qobuz.com/en/articles/10167-what-are-the-different-audio-formats-available-for-download |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=help.qobuz.com |language=en}}</ref>
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== History ==
In 2013, Qobuz received the Hi-Res Audio certification, awarded by the Japan Audio Society (JAS). This certification guarantees that the audio streams delivered by Qobuz meet the criteria and standards defined by the JAS.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Qobuz, the JAS, and the Myth of the High-Res Audio Logo – Real HD-Audio|url=https://www.realhd-audio.com/?p=4583|access-date=2021-07-19|language=en-US}}</ref>


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Streamed music is available in [[MP3]] at 320&nbsp;kbit/s, [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|CD-DA]] quality lossless (16-bit/44.1&nbsp;kHz)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.qobuz.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026640751-What-is-in-the-streaming-catalogue-|title=What is in the streaming catalogue?|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> and hi-resolution quality lossless (up to 24-bit/192&nbsp;kHz) for some tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/audio-quality|title=Qobuz - Discover and understand high-quality music with Qobuz streaming and downloads.|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> The formats available for individually-purchased songs are [[WAV]], [[Audio Interchange File Format|AIFF]], [[Apple Lossless|ALAC]] and [[FLAC]] for hi-res quality, [[Windows Media Audio#Windows Media Audio Lossless|lossless WMA]] for CD quality music, and MP3, [[Windows Media Audio#Windows Media Audio|standard WMA]] and [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]] for lossy quality (at 128&nbsp;kbit/s or 320&nbsp;kbit/s).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.qobuz.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026348572-What-are-the-different-audio-formats-available-for-download-|title=What are the different audio formats available for download?|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>
At the end of 2015, after a period of financial uncertainty, Qobuz attracted a new investor, which allowed the service to continue operating.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The latest news from your favourite online music service, Qobuz!|url = http://blogsv2.qobuz.com/qobuz-blog-en/2016/01/19/the-latest-news-from-your-favourite-online-music-service-qobuz/|website = The Qobuz Blog|date=19 January 2016|language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Xandrie SA: Private Company Information|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=252622241|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127065242/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=252622241|date=27 January 2016|archive-date=27 January 2016|website = Bloomberg}}</ref>


Qobuz's name comes from the musical instrument [[kobyz|kobyz/qobyz]].<ref name=":0" />
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In April 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 crisis, Qobuz supported artists by giving 100% of the revenue from each new subscriber’s first paid month back to the rights holders.<ref>{{Cite web|last=April 2020|first=Becky Scarrott 15|title=Qobuz is donating 100% of new streaming subscription revenue to rights-holders|url=https://www.whathifi.com/news/qobuz-is-donating-100-of-new-streaming-subscription-revenue-to-artists|access-date=2021-07-19|website=whathifi|language=en}}</ref>


In October 2024, Qobuz expanded its audio quality offer by introducing support for DSD (Direct Stream Digital) and DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition) formats,<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/fr-fr/finance/other/qobuz-propose-le-t%C3%A9l%C3%A9chargement-de-musique-aux-formats-dxd-et-dsd/ar-AA1s53tS |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref> which allow for up to the equivalent bitrate of 24-bit/176.2kHz and 32-bit/352.8KHz respectively. The same month, it launched an offer for students, enabling them to benefit from a discount on monthly subscriptions, which must be verified every 12 months to verify eligibility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coirault |first=Camille |date=2024-10-03 |title=Qobuz part à la conquête de Spotify, Deezer et Apple Music avec une offre étudiants à prix imbattable |url=https://www.presse-citron.net/qobuz-part-a-la-conquete-de-spotify-deezer-et-apple-music-avec-une-offre-etudiants-a-prix-imbattable/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Presse-citron |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
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On June 3, 2020, Qobuz announced the signing of a financial and industrial partnership with Quebecor, a Canadian leader in telecommunications, entertainment, news media and culture. QUB Music, a streaming platform launched in Quebec by the Quebecor company, was born out of this alliance.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-04|title=Qobuz partners with Canadian telco|url=https://www.hiresaudio.online/qobuz-partners-with-canadian-telco/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=High Resolution Audio|language=en-GB}}</ref>


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== History ==
On June 15, 2020, Qobuz ended its MP3 quality streaming offer, focusing instead exclusively on lossless streaming. All Qobuz subscriptions give access to high resolution quality (Hi-Res) and CD quality. However, MP3 listening is available as an option for conserving storage space or using less bandwidth.

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Qobuz was founded in 2007 by Denis Thébaud. From 2014 to 2020 the company had a partnership with the British classical music magazine ''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]'', under which the magazine uses Qobuz to publish recommended playlists.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jolly|first1=James|title=What a vintage!|work=[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]|issue=December 2014}}</ref>
In June 2020, the subscription offerings were increased with a family plan, Qobuz Family, which allows the customer to share six accounts among members of the same household.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Editorial Staff|date=2020-06-25|title=Qobuz Launches Family Plan Subscriptions|url=https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2020/06/25/qobuz-launches-family-plan-subscriptions/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Part-Time Audiophile|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{As of| April 2021}} Qobuz currently offers four plans: Studio Premier (Base subscription, monthly as well as annual with discount), and Studio Sublime (An annual-only subscription that adds a discount on downloads,) as well as Family variants, with up to six users, of each plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/music/streaming/offers|title=Qobuz - Unlimited streaming offers - From £12.49/month|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>

Qobuz is available in 18 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Where is Qobuz available?|url = https://help.qobuz.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010260660-Where-is-Qobuz-available-|date=27 April 2021}}</ref>

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Qobuz offers all music in [[MP3]] at 320 kbps, [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|CD-DA]] quality lossless (16-bit/44.1&nbsp;kHz)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.qobuz.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026640751-What-is-in-the-streaming-catalogue-|title=What is in the streaming catalogue?|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> as well as hi-res quality lossless (up to 24-bit/192&nbsp;kHz) for certain music;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/audio-quality|title=Qobuz - Discover and understand high-quality music with Qobuz streaming and downloads.|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> downloads are offered in either [[WAV]], [[Audio Interchange File Format|AIFF]], [[Apple Lossless|ALAC]], and [[FLAC]] for hi-res quality, with [[Windows Media Audio#Windows Media Audio Lossless|lossless WMA]] also available for CD quality music only, and MP3, [[Windows Media Audio#Windows Media Audio|standard WMA]], and [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]] in 128 kbps or 320 kbps for lossy quality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.qobuz.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026348572-What-are-the-different-audio-formats-available-for-download-|title=What are the different audio formats available for download?|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>

The streaming service can be accessed via a web player, or by using a desktop player for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] and [[macOS]]; the Windows version may also work on [[Linux]] with recent versions of [[Wine (software)|Wine]]. Qobuz also provides [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/applications|title=Download Qobuz app: iOS, Android, Mac and PC|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> Qobuz is also provided natively on a range of [[hi-fi|High fidelity]] equipment such as Linn and Naim, as well as Roon,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Intégration Roon|url = https://help.qobuz.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010260660-Where-is-Qobuz-available-|date = 18 May 2021}}</ref> and [[Sonos]].


Qobuz was unable to secure financing, ran into financial difficulties, and in 2015 Qobuz was acquired by Xandrie SA.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Qobuz takeover confirmed; fresh investment and expansion planned|url = https://www.whathifi.com/news/qobuz-takeover-confirmed-fresh-investment-and-expansion-planned|website = WhatHifi|date=4 January 2016}}</ref>
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The company has a partnership with the British classical music magazine ''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]'', under which the magazine uses Qobuz to publish recommended playlists.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jolly|first1=James|title=What a vintage!|work=[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]|issue=December 2014}}</ref>


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In April 2020, during the early months of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Qobuz gave 100% of the revenue from each new subscriber's first paid month back to the rights holders.<ref>{{Cite web|last=April 2020|first=Becky Scarrott 15|title=Qobuz is donating 100% of new streaming subscription revenue to rights-holders|url=https://www.whathifi.com/news/qobuz-is-donating-100-of-new-streaming-subscription-revenue-to-artists|access-date=2021-07-19|website=whathifi}}</ref>
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== Locations ==
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Open in France since 2007, Qobuz extended its reach in December 2013 to eight European countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands then, in 2017, in Spain and Italy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Qobuz|title=Qobuz, now available in Italy and Spain|url=http://blogsv2.qobuz.com/qobuz-blog-en/2017/12/15/qobuz-now-available-in-italy-and-spain/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=The Qobuz Blog|language=en-GB}}</ref>


In 2018, Qobuz was active in eleven countries. In 2019, Qobuz opened its subsidiary in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Qobuz Comes to the U.S.A.|url=https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/qobuz-comes-to-the-u-s-a|access-date=2021-07-19|website=The Absolute Sound|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2020 Qobuz ended its MP3 quality subscription plan, focusing instead on lossless streaming. However, MP3 is available as an option. A family plan was also added.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Editorial Staff|date=2020-06-25|title=Qobuz Launches Family Plan Subscriptions|url=https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2020/06/25/qobuz-launches-family-plan-subscriptions/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Part-Time Audiophile}}</ref>
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In partnership with Quebecor, a Canadian media and telecommunications company, Qobuz launched the music streaming service QUB Music.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-04|title=Qobuz partners with Canadian telco|url=https://www.hiresaudio.online/qobuz-partners-with-canadian-telco/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=High Resolution Audio}}</ref>


On April 15, 2021, Qobuz made its streaming and downloading offers available in six new countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sparrow|first=Mark|title=Hi-Res Streaming Service Qobuz Launches In Australia, New Zealand And Scandinavia|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2021/04/15/hi-res-streaming-service-qobuz-launches-in-australia-new-zealand-and-scandinavia/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>
In October 2024, Qobuz extends its services to Japan, the world's second-largest music market. This marks an important step in Qobuz's international expansion, with new access to the Asian market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MATHÉ |first=Philippe |date=2024-10-24 |title=Qobuz, le pionnier français du streaming musical haute qualité, se lance au Japon |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/culture/musiques/qobuz-le-pionnier-francais-du-streaming-musical-haute-qualite-se-lance-au-japon-a0abb4f6-8fc3-11ef-9d74-cdf49a297048 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Ouest-France.fr |language=fr}}</ref>


== Application ==
==Availability==
=== Platforms ===
The Qobuz application can be downloaded for free on the AppStore, Google Play. Accessible on mobile and tablet, it is also available on computer for Mac, PC and web player. The application allows listening to 30-second clips for free, however, a paid subscription is required to listen to full tracks. Users of iOS and Android smartphones can access the platform after signing up for a Qobuz Studio subscription. The Qobuz app is compatible with Google Cast/Chromecast built-in.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Qobuz - Your music everywhere with you|url=https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/discover/apps-partners|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Qobuz|language=en-US}}</ref>
Qobuz has apps for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]], [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] compatible devices. On Windows and macOS devices, 30-second clips are available without a subscription, however a paid subscription is required to listen to full tracks. On mobile devices, a paid subscription is required to listen to any music.


Qobuz can also be used on [[Google Chromecast]] devices and [[TizenOS]] (as used on Samsung televisions) devices.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Qobuz - Your music everywhere with you|url=https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/discover/apps-partners|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Qobuz|language=en-US}}</ref> It's also available on the music server management service ''Roon''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=POPUP|url=https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/qobuz|access-date=2021-07-20|website=help.roonlabs.com}}</ref> A web player version (accessed via a [[web browser]]) is also available.
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== Hardware ==
Qobuz streams lossless FLAC files, up to 24-bit/192&nbsp;kHz, provided by labels, distributors/aggregators, and rights holders.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-23|title=Qobuz review|url=https://www.soundguys.com/qobuz-review-50100/|access-date=2021-07-20|website=SoundGuys|language=en-US}}</ref>


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=== Hardware ===
Since January 22, 2019, Qobuz has been available for listening on Roon. An update in version 1.6 offers the best music experience to browse your music files and streaming services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=POPUP|url=https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/qobuz|access-date=2021-07-20|website=help.roonlabs.com}}</ref>
The Qobuz app is built in to some devices (such as [[Streaming media|streaming]] amplifiers) from brands such as [[Cambridge Audio]], [[Audio Pro]] and [[Naim Audio]]. In March 2021, Qobuz became the first music platform to offer 24-[[Audio bit depth|bit]] audio streaming on [[Sonos]] speakers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=March 2021|first=What Hi-Fi? 24|title=Sonos gets hi-res audio with Qobuz first to enable 24-bit streaming|url=https://www.whathifi.com/news/sonos-gets-hi-res-audio-with-qobuz-first-to-enable-24-bit-streaming|access-date=2021-07-20|website=whathifi|language=en}}</ref>


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=== Locations ===
Since January 15, 2020, UK HiFi specialist Naim Audio has been integrating Qobuz into its hardware for owners of the Uniti Atom, Star & Nova systems as well as the ND5 XS2, NDX 2 and ND 555 network players.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-16|title=Enjoy True High-Resolution Streaming with Qobuz|url=https://www.naimaudio.com/connection-magazine/27817/enjoy-true-high-resolution-streaming-with-qobuz|access-date=2021-07-20|website=www.naimaudio.com|language=en}}</ref>


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Qobuz launched in eight European countries in 2014: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands then, in 2017, in Spain and Italy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Qobuz|title=Qobuz, now available in Italy and Spain|url=http://blogsv2.qobuz.com/qobuz-blog-en/2017/12/15/qobuz-now-available-in-italy-and-spain/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=The Qobuz Blog|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2019, Qobuz became available in the United States after opening a US headquarters in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Qobuz Comes to the U.S.A.|url=https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/qobuz-comes-to-the-u-s-a|access-date=2021-07-19|website=The Absolute Sound|language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2020, a new update was made for the Mu-so 2nd Generation and Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation wireless systems.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Naim Mu-so 2nd Generation Family Now With Support for Qobuz High-Resolution Wireless Music Streaming|url=https://audioxpress.com/news/naim-mu-so-2nd-generation-family-now-with-support-for-qobuz-high-resolution-wireless-music-streaming|access-date=2021-07-20|website=audioXpress|language=en}}</ref>


On March 24, 2021, Qobuz became the first music platform to offer high-resolution 24-bit audio streaming on Sonos, the world leader in connected wireless audio systems.<ref>{{Cite web|last=March 2021|first=What Hi-Fi? 24|title=Sonos gets hi-res audio with Qobuz first to enable 24-bit streaming|url=https://www.whathifi.com/news/sonos-gets-hi-res-audio-with-qobuz-first-to-enable-24-bit-streaming|access-date=2021-07-20|website=whathifi|language=en}}</ref>
In 2021, Qobuz was made available in six new countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sparrow|first=Mark|title=Hi-Res Streaming Service Qobuz Launches In Australia, New Zealand And Scandinavia|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2021/04/15/hi-res-streaming-service-qobuz-launches-in-australia-new-zealand-and-scandinavia/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>
In 2022, Qobuz offered its service in six new countries: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Portugal<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Tom |date=2022-05-10 |title=Your music is now available on Qobuz in Latin America and Portugal |url=https://routenote.com/blog/qobuz-in-latin-america-and-portugal/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=RouteNote Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> and in 2023 it was launched in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Qobuz|title=Qobuz, the High-Quality Music Streaming and Download Platform, Launches Today in Canada|url=http://blogsv2.qobuz.com/press-room/2023/04/19/qobuz-the-high-quality-music-streaming-and-download-platform-launches-today-in-canada/|access-date=2023-05-06|website=The Qobuz Blog|language=en}}</ref>


== Investment ==
== Business model ==
=== Plans ===
In August 2019, the French platform raised €12 million from Nabuboto and the Quebecor Group. Qobuz recorded a +45.3% growth in its last fiscal year 2019-2020. In September 2020, the two historical shareholders, Nabuboto and Quebecor, renewed their confidence in the company by raising a further 10 million euros.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-21|title=Hi-Res music service Qobuz raises $11m to fund global expansion|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hi-res-music-service-qobuz-raises-11-7m-to-fund-global-expansion/|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Music Business Worldwide|language=en-US}}</ref>
Qobuz offers the base subscription, Studio Premier, and Studio Sublime which adds a discount on digital purchases and can only be purchased annually. Both of these subscription plans are also available for two accounts or up to six.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/music/streaming/offers|title=Qobuz - Unlimited streaming offers - From £12.49/month|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>


== Catalog ==
=== Funding ===
In 2021, Qobuz offers more than 70 million tracks in CD and "Hi-Res" quality (24 bits up to 192&nbsp;kHz). All the tracks purchased are offered without any DRM restrictions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Newman|first=Tom|date=2021-03-09|title=How to distribute to Qobuz for free|url=https://routenote.com/blog/how-to-distribute-to-qobuz-for-free/|access-date=2021-07-21|website=RouteNote Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>
In August 2019, Qobuz raised €11.7 million from Nabuboto and the Quebecor Group{{Cite web|date=2020-09-21|title=Hi-Res music service Qobuz raises $11m to fund global expansion|url=https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2020/09/22/qobuz-funding-round/|access-date=2020-09-22|website=Digital Music News|language=en-US}}. In September 2020, the two shareholders raised a further 10 million euros.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-21|title=Hi-Res music service Qobuz raises $11m to fund global expansion|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hi-res-music-service-qobuz-raises-11-7m-to-fund-global-expansion/|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Music Business Worldwide|language=en-US}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Companies|Internet|Radio|Music|France}}
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* [[Comparison of on-demand streaming music services]]
* [[Comparison of online music stores]]
*[[Comparison of music streaming services]]
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*[[Comparison of online music stores]]
*[[List of Internet radio stations]]


==Notes==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.qobuz.com}}
* {{Official website}}


{{Music streaming services}}
{{Music streaming services}}

Latest revision as of 09:22, 7 January 2025

Qobuz
TypeMusic service
Launch date18 September 2007; 17 years ago (2007-09-18)
Availability25 countries
Websitewww.qobuz.com

Qobuz (US: /ˈkoʊˌbʌz/, UK: /ˈkəʊˌbʌz/,[1] often stylized as qobuz) is a French digital music store and streaming service, launched in 2007 by Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel.[2] Qobuz is now owned by Xandrie SA. In June 2023, Qobuz offers over 100 million tracks on its service.[3]

For additional subscription fees, tracks are available at CD-quality and "Hi-Res" quality (24 bits up to 192 kHz). Individual tracks can also be purchased without any DRM restrictions.[4]

Streamed music is available in MP3 at 320 kbit/s, CD-DA quality lossless (16-bit/44.1 kHz)[5] and hi-resolution quality lossless (up to 24-bit/192 kHz) for some tracks.[6] The formats available for individually-purchased songs are WAV, AIFF, ALAC and FLAC for hi-res quality, lossless WMA for CD quality music, and MP3, standard WMA and AAC for lossy quality (at 128 kbit/s or 320 kbit/s).[7]

Qobuz's name comes from the musical instrument kobyz/qobyz.[2]

In October 2024, Qobuz expanded its audio quality offer by introducing support for DSD (Direct Stream Digital) and DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition) formats,[8] which allow for up to the equivalent bitrate of 24-bit/176.2kHz and 32-bit/352.8KHz respectively. The same month, it launched an offer for students, enabling them to benefit from a discount on monthly subscriptions, which must be verified every 12 months to verify eligibility.[9]

History

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Qobuz was founded in 2007 by Denis Thébaud. From 2014 to 2020 the company had a partnership with the British classical music magazine Gramophone, under which the magazine uses Qobuz to publish recommended playlists.[10]

Qobuz was unable to secure financing, ran into financial difficulties, and in 2015 Qobuz was acquired by Xandrie SA.[11]

In April 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Qobuz gave 100% of the revenue from each new subscriber's first paid month back to the rights holders.[12]

In 2020 Qobuz ended its MP3 quality subscription plan, focusing instead on lossless streaming. However, MP3 is available as an option. A family plan was also added.[13] In partnership with Quebecor, a Canadian media and telecommunications company, Qobuz launched the music streaming service QUB Music.[14]

In October 2024, Qobuz extends its services to Japan, the world's second-largest music market. This marks an important step in Qobuz's international expansion, with new access to the Asian market.[15]

Availability

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Platforms

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Qobuz has apps for Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS and Android compatible devices. On Windows and macOS devices, 30-second clips are available without a subscription, however a paid subscription is required to listen to full tracks. On mobile devices, a paid subscription is required to listen to any music.

Qobuz can also be used on Google Chromecast devices and TizenOS (as used on Samsung televisions) devices.[16] It's also available on the music server management service Roon.[17] A web player version (accessed via a web browser) is also available.

Hardware

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The Qobuz app is built in to some devices (such as streaming amplifiers) from brands such as Cambridge Audio, Audio Pro and Naim Audio. In March 2021, Qobuz became the first music platform to offer 24-bit audio streaming on Sonos speakers.[18]

Locations

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Qobuz launched in eight European countries in 2014: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands then, in 2017, in Spain and Italy.[19] In 2019, Qobuz became available in the United States after opening a US headquarters in 2018.[20]

In 2021, Qobuz was made available in six new countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Australia and New Zealand.[21] In 2022, Qobuz offered its service in six new countries: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Portugal[22] and in 2023 it was launched in Canada.[23]

Business model

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Plans

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Qobuz offers the base subscription, Studio Premier, and Studio Sublime which adds a discount on digital purchases and can only be purchased annually. Both of these subscription plans are also available for two accounts or up to six. [24]

Funding

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In August 2019, Qobuz raised €11.7 million from Nabuboto and the Quebecor Group"Hi-Res music service Qobuz raises $11m to fund global expansion". Digital Music News. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.. In September 2020, the two shareholders raised a further 10 million euros.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wayne Coyne (of The Flaming Lips) | How to pronounce Qobuz, retrieved 19 September 2022
  2. ^ a b "Qobuz – Our history and values". Qobuz. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Qobuz review". TechRadar. 17 June 2023.
  4. ^ "What are the different audio formats available for download? | Qobuz Help Center". help.qobuz.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  5. ^ "What is in the streaming catalogue?". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Qobuz - Discover and understand high-quality music with Qobuz streaming and downloads". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  7. ^ "What are the different audio formats available for download?". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  8. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  9. ^ Coirault, Camille (3 October 2024). "Qobuz part à la conquête de Spotify, Deezer et Apple Music avec une offre étudiants à prix imbattable". Presse-citron (in French). Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  10. ^ Jolly, James. "What a vintage!". Gramophone. No. December 2014.
  11. ^ "Qobuz takeover confirmed; fresh investment and expansion planned". WhatHifi. 4 January 2016.
  12. ^ April 2020, Becky Scarrott 15. "Qobuz is donating 100% of new streaming subscription revenue to rights-holders". whathifi. Retrieved 19 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Editorial Staff (25 June 2020). "Qobuz Launches Family Plan Subscriptions". Part-Time Audiophile. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Qobuz partners with Canadian telco". High Resolution Audio. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  15. ^ MATHÉ, Philippe (24 October 2024). "Qobuz, le pionnier français du streaming musical haute qualité, se lance au Japon". Ouest-France.fr (in French). Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Qobuz - Your music everywhere with you". Qobuz. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  17. ^ "POPUP". help.roonlabs.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  18. ^ March 2021, What Hi-Fi? 24. "Sonos gets hi-res audio with Qobuz first to enable 24-bit streaming". whathifi. Retrieved 20 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Qobuz. "Qobuz, now available in Italy and Spain". The Qobuz Blog. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Qobuz Comes to the U.S.A." The Absolute Sound. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  21. ^ Sparrow, Mark. "Hi-Res Streaming Service Qobuz Launches In Australia, New Zealand And Scandinavia". Forbes. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  22. ^ Newman, Tom (10 May 2022). "Your music is now available on Qobuz in Latin America and Portugal". RouteNote Blog. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  23. ^ Qobuz. "Qobuz, the High-Quality Music Streaming and Download Platform, Launches Today in Canada". The Qobuz Blog. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Qobuz - Unlimited streaming offers - From £12.49/month". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Hi-Res music service Qobuz raises $11m to fund global expansion". Music Business Worldwide. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
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