Music streaming showdown looms

Stockholm

THIS week's all-star launch of US rapper Jay Z's music streaming service may not have caused Spotify's management to lose sleep - but analysts predict tough days ahead as tech giant Apple prepares to enter the fray.

The glitzy rebrand of the Tidal service which Jay Z bought from another Swedish firm Aspiro for US$56 million was billed as a new departure in streaming: higher-quality audio and owned by artists for artists, not record labels and tech companies.