Table of Contents
- Why Did Tidal Eliminate Its Beloved Clickable Credits Feature That Music Lovers Desperately Miss?
- What Made This Feature Special
- User Impact and Frustration
- Primary Discovery Method Lost
- Competitive Disadvantage
- Premium Service Expectations
- Timeline and Implementation
- Current Alternatives and Workarounds
- External Resources
- Competitor Services
Why Did Tidal Eliminate Its Beloved Clickable Credits Feature That Music Lovers Desperately Miss?
Tidal has silently discontinued one of its most valued features—clickable credits functionality—leaving music enthusiasts frustrated and searching for alternatives. This premium streaming service, known for its high-quality audio and comprehensive metadata, has removed the ability for users to click on contributor names within song credits to explore their complete discographies.
What Made This Feature Special
The clickable credits system distinguished Tidal from competitors by offering:
- Instant artist discovery through contributor profiles
- Comprehensive work histories across different musical roles
- Seamless navigation between related artists and projects
- Professional-grade metadata typically found in industry databases
User Impact and Frustration
The removal has particularly affected Tidal’s core demographic—serious music listeners willing to pay premium prices for enhanced features. Key user complaints include:
Primary Discovery Method Lost
Many subscribers relied exclusively on this feature to find new music. Users could identify talented session musicians, producers, or composers and instantly access their complete catalogs.
Competitive Disadvantage
With this removal, Tidal has eliminated a significant differentiator from services like Spotify, which never offered comparable clickable credits functionality.
Premium Service Expectations
Subscribers paying $20+ monthly feel betrayed by the removal of features that justified their higher subscription costs.
Timeline and Implementation
The feature disappeared gradually:
- Desktop version: Approximately two months ago
- Mobile applications: More recently
- Support confirmation: Permanent removal with no planned replacement
Current Alternatives and Workarounds
Disappointed users now resort to:
External Resources
- AllMusic.com for artist research
- Discogs for detailed recording information
- MusicBrainz for comprehensive metadata
Competitor Services
- Apple Music offers limited credit viewing (non-clickable)
- Spotify provides basic contributor information
- Amazon Music HD includes some metadata features
This decision appears counterintuitive given Tidal’s positioning as a premium service for serious music enthusiasts. The feature aligned perfectly with the platform’s target audience—users who value detailed musical information and are willing to pay premium prices for enhanced discovery tools.
Tidal has provided no public explanation for this removal or indicated whether replacement functionality is under development. While user feedback might influence future decisions, the company’s silence suggests this change may be permanent.
The removal represents a significant step backward for music discovery tools in streaming services, particularly disappointing given Tidal’s reputation for catering to music professionals and serious enthusiasts who rely on comprehensive metadata for their listening experience.