Why is Qobuz attracting more music fans?
The hi-res streaming service is attracting more listeners than ever, and its rise highlights a growing opportunity for independent artists.
The streaming market isn’t changing overnight, but some interesting shifts are starting to emerge.
One of the clearest examples is Qobuz. Once known primarily as a niche destination for audiophiles, the independent streaming and download platform is now attracting a much broader audience. According to Digital Music News, SimilarWeb data ranked Qobuz among the fastest-growing music and media apps in both the US and UK during 2025, while the company recently confirmed it has surpassed 1.2 million monthly active users.
For independent artists, the story isn’t just about one platform growing. It’s about what that growth says about where streaming is heading next.
Listeners are looking beyond the biggest DSPs
For years, the streaming landscape has been dominated by a handful of major players. While services like Spotify and Apple Music remain huge, listeners now have more choice than ever before.
The rise of Qobuz suggests that some fans are becoming more selective about how they discover and consume music. Rather than simply choosing the largest platform, they’re increasingly seeking services that align with their preferences, whether that’s better audio quality, stronger artist support, or a different approach to recommendations.
This trend reflects a wider shift happening across music. Vinyl continues to grow, direct-to-fan communities are becoming more valuable, and dedicated music listeners are often looking for deeper connections with the artists they support.
Why is Qobuz standing out?
Part of Qobuz’s appeal comes from how differently it positions itself compared to many streaming competitors
The platform has long been known for its lossless streaming and high-resolution downloads, but it has also built a reputation around human-led music discovery. Rather than relying heavily on algorithms, editorial playlists and recommendations are curated by music experts.
Qobuz has also publicly emphasised artist compensation and transparency. Digital Music News points out that last year, the company released independently audited royalty data showing that rights holders received nearly $19 per 1,000 streams. While per-stream rates don’t tell the full story of streaming revenue, the move helped reinforce its artist-friendly image compared to that of bigger competitors.
The platform has additionally taken a clear stance on AI-generated music, stating that AI-created tracks will be identified and excluded from editorial recommendations.
Together, these decisions have helped Qobuz establish a distinct identity at a time when many DSPs are competing with increasingly similar features.
Easier switching is creating new opportunities
Another factor helping smaller platforms grow is that listeners are no longer as locked into a single ecosystem as they once were.
Playlist transfer tools such as Soundiiz and Tune My Music have made it easier for users to move their libraries between streaming services, reducing one of the biggest barriers to switching. As a result, DSP market share may become more fluid than it has been over the past decade.
For artists, that’s an important reminder not to focus exclusively on one platform.
A listener discovering your music on Spotify today could just as easily be listening on Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, or another service tomorrow.
The bigger picture for artists
Qobuz is still a relatively small player compared to the largest streaming platforms, but its growth reflects a broader shift across streaming. Audiences are fragmenting, and niche services are increasingly carving out loyal communities.
That makes wide distribution more important than ever. By ensuring your music is available across as many platforms as possible, you give yourself the best chance of reaching listeners wherever they choose to listen.
As streaming continues to evolve, success won’t just come from being present on the biggest DSPs. It will come from being available wherever engaged music fans are discovering their next favourite artist.