Blab Music
Qobuz and Memphis Community Radio WYXR Forge Year-Long Streaming Partnership
Qobuz, the Paris‑based high‑resolution music streaming platform, announced a year‑long partnership with WYXR 91.7 FM, a non‑profit community radio station in Memphis, Tennessee. The collaboration, which will run through 2027, will embed Qobuz across WYXR’s on‑air programming, digital platforms and listener experience, while bringing the station’s DJ‑curated playlists to Qobuz users.
Under the agreement, Qobuz will act as the presenting archive sponsor. Pre‑roll spots will appear on WYXR’s online archive player in alternating months, and the platform will sponsor a six‑month block of on‑air underwriting spots. Additionally, Qobuz will receive a monthly placement in WYXR’s e‑newsletter. The partnership also allows WYXR’s programming to be featured on Qobuz, giving the station’s content exposure to the streaming service’s audience.
The deal builds on Qobuz’s existing presence in Memphis. Earlier this year, the company partnered with the Memphis Listening Lab to equip the Lab’s digital listening stations with Qobuz’s service, delivering high‑resolution streaming to the SoundRoom. WYXR’s radio studio shares the same multi‑use complex as the Listening Lab.
"WYXR is an essential voice in one of America’s most influential music cities," said Dan Mackta, Qobuz Managing Director for North America and Northern Europe. "Their commitment to independent programming, musical discovery, and community aligns perfectly with Qobuz’s mission, and we’re excited to help bring their incredible curation to even more listeners."
Qobuz has a history of partnering with organizations that promote music discovery, local culture and independent artists. Recent collaborations include Soho Radio, the Newport Festivals Foundation, the Great Escape Festival in Brighton, Festival Bach Montreal, SXSW, Rough Trade Records, Drag City Records, Sam First Records in Los Angeles and Chicago‑based indie label International Anthem.
The partnership comes after Qobuz became the first streaming platform to have its average payout rate per stream validated by an independent audit. The audit confirmed a rate of $0.01873, the highest validated rate in the industry. The company’s focus on human‑curated playlists and editorial content has distinguished it from competitors. In 2025, Qobuz more than doubled its new‑user base, reaching a peak position of #4 on the iOS App Store.
WYXR, licensed at 91.7 MHz, is a 501(c)(3) non‑profit community radio station headquartered in the historic Crosstown Concourse building. The station is owned by Crosstown Radio Partnership, Inc. and was launched in collaboration with the University of Memphis, the Daily Memphian and Crosstown Concourse. WYXR began broadcasting on October 5 2020 and has positioned itself as a freeform station that blends Memphis’ blues, rock and soul heritage with contemporary genres such as jazz, hip‑hop and house.
The partnership is significant for both parties. For Qobuz, it expands the platform’s footprint in a city with a rich musical heritage, offering listeners access to local programming and high‑resolution audio. For WYXR, the collaboration provides additional funding through underwriting spots and archive sponsorship, while giving the station’s content a broader digital audience.
The year‑long agreement will see Qobuz’s presence grow across WYXR’s on‑air and online channels, and it will likely influence how community‑driven stations integrate streaming services in the future. As Qobuz continues to emphasize fair compensation for artists and high‑quality audio, the partnership with WYXR underscores the platform’s commitment to supporting local music ecosystems.
The partnership will remain in effect through 2027, with no announced changes to the terms. Both Qobuz and WYXR have not yet disclosed any additional plans for joint programming beyond the current scope.
Under the agreement, Qobuz will act as the presenting archive sponsor. Pre‑roll spots will appear on WYXR’s online archive player in alternating months, and the platform will sponsor a six‑month block of on‑air underwriting spots. Additionally, Qobuz will receive a monthly placement in WYXR’s e‑newsletter. The partnership also allows WYXR’s programming to be featured on Qobuz, giving the station’s content exposure to the streaming service’s audience.
The deal builds on Qobuz’s existing presence in Memphis. Earlier this year, the company partnered with the Memphis Listening Lab to equip the Lab’s digital listening stations with Qobuz’s service, delivering high‑resolution streaming to the SoundRoom. WYXR’s radio studio shares the same multi‑use complex as the Listening Lab.
"WYXR is an essential voice in one of America’s most influential music cities," said Dan Mackta, Qobuz Managing Director for North America and Northern Europe. "Their commitment to independent programming, musical discovery, and community aligns perfectly with Qobuz’s mission, and we’re excited to help bring their incredible curation to even more listeners."
Qobuz has a history of partnering with organizations that promote music discovery, local culture and independent artists. Recent collaborations include Soho Radio, the Newport Festivals Foundation, the Great Escape Festival in Brighton, Festival Bach Montreal, SXSW, Rough Trade Records, Drag City Records, Sam First Records in Los Angeles and Chicago‑based indie label International Anthem.
The partnership comes after Qobuz became the first streaming platform to have its average payout rate per stream validated by an independent audit. The audit confirmed a rate of $0.01873, the highest validated rate in the industry. The company’s focus on human‑curated playlists and editorial content has distinguished it from competitors. In 2025, Qobuz more than doubled its new‑user base, reaching a peak position of #4 on the iOS App Store.
WYXR, licensed at 91.7 MHz, is a 501(c)(3) non‑profit community radio station headquartered in the historic Crosstown Concourse building. The station is owned by Crosstown Radio Partnership, Inc. and was launched in collaboration with the University of Memphis, the Daily Memphian and Crosstown Concourse. WYXR began broadcasting on October 5 2020 and has positioned itself as a freeform station that blends Memphis’ blues, rock and soul heritage with contemporary genres such as jazz, hip‑hop and house.
The partnership is significant for both parties. For Qobuz, it expands the platform’s footprint in a city with a rich musical heritage, offering listeners access to local programming and high‑resolution audio. For WYXR, the collaboration provides additional funding through underwriting spots and archive sponsorship, while giving the station’s content a broader digital audience.
The year‑long agreement will see Qobuz’s presence grow across WYXR’s on‑air and online channels, and it will likely influence how community‑driven stations integrate streaming services in the future. As Qobuz continues to emphasize fair compensation for artists and high‑quality audio, the partnership with WYXR underscores the platform’s commitment to supporting local music ecosystems.
The partnership will remain in effect through 2027, with no announced changes to the terms. Both Qobuz and WYXR have not yet disclosed any additional plans for joint programming beyond the current scope.
