Struggling Musicians Launch Crowdfunding Project 'Tidal'

Struggling Musicians Launch Crowdfunding Project 'Tidal'
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: (L-R) Usher, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Deadmau5, Kanye West, JAY Z, and J. Cole onstage at the Tidal launch event #TIDALforALL at Skylight at Moynihan Station on March 30, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: (L-R) Usher, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Deadmau5, Kanye West, JAY Z, and J. Cole onstage at the Tidal launch event #TIDALforALL at Skylight at Moynihan Station on March 30, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images

A group of up-and-coming musicians have joined together to launch a crowdfunding venture.

They are asking people to donate £20 a month to fund their pop careers through a music streaming service called 'Tidal'.

"It's really hard for struggling artists like us to receive adequate payment for our work," said musician Jay-Z, who founded the project and earned just $60 million last year.

"My wife Beyoncé and I have a combined net worth of $1 billion," he added. "Clearly, we need to find a new business model."

Launched with the slogan 'Tidal For All - But Mainly For Us', the venture is also backed by newcomers Kanye West, Madonna and Rihanna, and rising stars Coldplay and Daft Punk.

"The music streaming service Spotify just wasn't meeting our needs," one star told HuffPost UK Comedy. "That's why we launched our own project, which takes power back into our hands and away from the public."

When asked how the service will help other impoverished musicians, they replied: "Who?"

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