One of the cornerstones of Jay Z's new streaming service Tidal is that users get exclusive content before anyone else - however this appears to have gone down very badly with Rihanna's devoted fandom.
Rihanna posted the video for 'American Oxygen' early this week but the tone of the comments on her Facebook would suggest that the massed members of the Rihanna Navy are less than convinced.
Among the standard messages any Rihanna video receives (ranging from " Working with demons we all know you;re the illuminati princess" to "clicked to see nipples in a bigger picture.. was asked to buy something.. Misleading"), the overall message is one rejecting the service that Rihanna recently signed for.
Here are a collection of some of the more notable comments. Caution: the level of entitlement (the clear message is that music should be for free for all at all times worldwide) is off the charts.
1. "And then no one listened to Rihanna again because she's only available on the streaming service for the 1%" (531 likes)
2. "#VevoForAll" (225 likes)
3. "No boobs no likes , no spotify no buy." (346 likes)
4. "NO WAY IN HELL I WILL GET IT FROM TIDAL!! Y'LL SCREWING OVER FANS!!! IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MUSIC AND THE LOVE FOR IT IT'S ALL MONEY" (304 likes)
5. "They still want to earn millions from singing. Makes them look even more selfish. 98% of them don't even pay tax on their amassed wealth through offshore loopholes and 'personal business reinvestment'. The day I see one of these money grabbing whores do something selfless for humanity will be the day I die." (25 likes)
6. "This is so unfair for fans like me that don't have the money for this Tidal thing. This is very exclusive, and music should actually bring fans and people together, regardless if you have the money or you don't. (9 likes)
7. "I hope you enjoy not monetizing your music anymore as you exclusively release material to a streaming platform no one wants to use. Others will take your place in the pop world. Sorry." (4 likes)
8. "Tidal is #SHIT !! #wewantAOinvevo pleaasssseee" (339 likes)
9. "I can't afford tidal but really wanna see the music video for American oxygen" (241 likes)
10. "I feel like Rihanna is excluding her fans that don't have TIDAL. We're still going to purchase her songs on iTunes; but because we're not TIDAL members, we're not privileged enough as fans to enjoy the content right away." (189 likes)
11. "I love Jay, Rihanna and Beyonce but fuck tidal. I never gonna pay for that shit. What they gonna do with the money. Buy their 6th new house or their 9th new car? Fuck that shit Jay I gotta hustle for my money" (19 likes)
12. "Yeah fuck that! Y'all motherfuckers be acting like we got money like that! $20 a month?? I rather buy bud with it sit and wait till shit come out bootleg or some shit!." (4 likes)
Read Cowboys and Indies author Gareth Murphy on why Tidal isn't the future of the music industry.
