The Kanye Effect ⇥ techcrunch.com

Fitz Tepper, TechCrunch:

After scoring exclusive streaming rights to Kanye West’s new album, The Life of Pablo, Tidal has taken over the number one spot on the U.S. App Store.

The album, which went live yesterday, was originally supposed to be available for streaming on Tidal’s platform, as well as for purchase on Kanye’s website. However, yesterday Kanye tweeted that he was pulling the album from his own site, meaning Tidal would become the only place fans could listen to the album, at least until it hits iTunes in seven days.

Tidal was practically forgotten until the surprise release of Rihanna’s new album earlier this month, and now this news about Kanye’s new record. That’s a hell of a get.

For what it’s worth, his new album occupies some of the highest slots on popular and private BitTorrent trackers. Make of that what you will.