MQA Strikes Deals With Merlin, StreamUnlimited for MQA Support

Global digital rights agency Merlin announced support Monday for MQA, enabling independent music labels to encode master recordings in MQA technology. The multiyear partnership is expected to boost the uptake and growth of MQA streaming, they said. MQA is currently available from streaming music service Tidal and is supported on the hardware side by Pioneer, Technics, Onkyo, Bluesound, NAD, Meridian, Mytek, Kripton, Brinkmann, Aurender, Cary Audio and MSB. Merlin acts on behalf of thousands of independent record labels and distributors in 50 countries. In addition, audio module and software company StreamUnlimited announced a partnership with MQA, saying the hi-res audio format offers music services, hardware companies and record labels "the opportunity to close the gap between the consumer listening experience and the recording studio." ​