Qobuz has been selected for Best Inventions of 2026 in the Entertainment & Gaming category. The recognition draws attention to the independent platform’s ad-free listening, human-curated playlists and reportedly higher per-stream royalty payments.
Founded in 2007, the French company offers high-resolution streaming and music downloads alongside original journalism, recording credits and editorial recommendations.
Its approach to discovery draws on the independent record store, using informed recommendations to encourage listeners to explore unfamiliar music.
The company’s recently announced updates include:
- A redesigned player featuring synchronized lyrics.
- Broader access to recording credits and editorial material.
- Tags identifying music generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Qobuz has also expanded Qobuz Connect, which lets listeners use its apps to stream music directly to compatible audio equipment.
Artist partnerships have included exclusive streaming of yasiin bey’s The Ecstatic, plus global listening events and an exclusive live release with Sylvan Esso.
The platform’s projects have also included restoring and releasing 77 performances from Alan Lomax’s American Patchwork recordings.
