Among a set of unique features, the new HDtracks streaming service will offer consumers choice in formats and will be the first subscription service to be able to maximize quality of service according to network conditions. According to Lenbrook, there is an unfounded belief that sound quality is defined only by bit depth and that service quality is defined only by the number of tracks a service carries. Both companies agree that users will value that fact that HDtracks can offer well-curated content that spans a wide variety of genres, while delivering the best sounding versions of a track in the format of a listener's choosing.
"We have wanted to launch an HDtracks streaming service for some time. In Lenbrook we have a partner with global reach to help us launch a service ensuring quality and consumer choice," says HDtracks co-founder David Chesky, who has been a recognized leader and evangelist of high resolution audio alongside his brother Norman. "Fans will get to choose their format – either PCM/FLAC or MQA - in a service that will ensure high resolution audio streaming whether you are in your home or on-the-go."
The HDtracks service will be the first to use Lenbrook's AIRIA by MQA Labs, a transparent delivery codec equally suited for streaming from the cloud or wirelessly from a device to headphones. Designed for low-latency wireless communications by the inventors of lossless compression, it brings the benefits of a format-agnostic, scalable codec with an unmatched combination of audio quality, reliability, and data-efficiency.
"Our industry has been built by providing discerning music enthusiasts with choices while using innovation to advance digital music delivery," explains Lenbrook’s Chief Strategy Officer, John Banks. "As audiophiles ourselves, it’s an exciting prospect to bring a service to life for the millions of global audiophiles that care so passionately about the quality of the music they listen to."
The service will be available across platforms. In addition to its own applications for mobile, the service will find its way into many of the world’s leading high-end audio ecosystems, apps, and brands, that count on service providers for their content.
HDtracks was founded in 2008 by Norman and David Chesky - the GRAMMY Award-winning pioneers of revolutionary recording techniques and the founders of the prestigious Chesky Records label. HDtracks has taken their obsession with audio quality seriously. Industry-leading audio technology, painstaking quality controls, a vast library, and a user-friendly interface have helped mold HDtracks into one of the world's leading music discovery platforms.
This new partnership is the result of a longstanding relationship between both companies and its complementary capabilities, motivating Lenbrook to also become a co-owner of the company together with the Chesky brothers. The launch date for the new streaming service will be announced before the end of 2024, and subscription prices have not yet been established. Both parties are committed to making the service available on a global scale, although the initial geographical implementation is yet to be determined.
www.lenbrookmediagroup.com
www.hdtracks.com
