KANYE WEST: Abandoning Tidal?

Just weeks after the high-profile launch, Jay Z's artist-owned streaming service is losing steam fast. Tidal made big waves when it was first announced, but as the hype settles, the app's quick descent on Apple's app store rankings and dwindling support has become a reality check for Hova.

The service was highly criticized for what's been called a tone-deaf press conference, featuring multi-millionaires like Madonna, Chris Martin, Kanye West and Beyonce telling average Joe's they deserve to make more for their music. Now, just a two weeks after breaking the top 20, the music app has plummeted out of Apple's top 700 download chart. Even Kanye seems to be backtracking recently deleting three week old tweets encouraging his followers to check out Tidal.

Business Insider reported the struggling service made big cutbacks last week, letting 25 heads roll, including the company's former CEO in a streamlining effort. A former consultant for the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, Peter Tonstad, has stepped into the CEO role. (Complex)

Say What:

    People don't want to pay what they feel they can get elsewhere.

    Look for Jay to try a Hail Mary soon. His upcoming joint album with Beyonce is rumored to be exclusive to the platform.

    Jay needs to rack his brain for worthwhile exclusives. Carter family home movies? Jay and Rihanna sex tape?

    Grand opening, grand closing??

    KimYe got invited to this year's Met Gala, while Jay and Beyonce got dissed. Kanye's done living in the shadow of his "big brother."