Qobuz has launched a six-month partnership with independent outlet Drowned in Sound, linking two platforms that aim to offer alternatives to mainstream music services.
Running from December 2025 through June 2026, the collaboration will see Qobuz take on title-sponsor duties for the Drowned in Sound podcast, while also expanding its presence in the UK’s independent music scene.
The partnership will launch alongside DiS’s annual Best of 2025 coverage and include new podcast episodes featuring long-form guest interviews, beginning with electronic artist Kelly Lee Owens and songwriter Sofia Isella.
Each episode will be accompanied by curated playlists on Qobuz, designed to offer deeper discovery around the artists, themes and genres discussed. Qobuz says the aim is to support “intentional listening” through hand-picked, editorially guided selections rather than algorithmic surfacing.
Qobuz highlights its independent ownership and higher artist payouts as central to why the DiS partnership makes sense for its brand identity. The service reports an average royalty of US$0.01873 per stream, a figure independently audited earlier this year which sits well above the industry average.
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Managing director Dan Mackta describes the collaboration as a meeting of two organisations that prioritise transparency, community and fair compensation in an increasingly consolidated streaming landscape.
For Drowned in Sound, which began in 2000 and has since evolved into a broader culture-driven platform, the partnership opens the door to more ambitious editorial projects.
Founder Sean Adams says the relationship with Qobuz supports DiS’s ongoing work around music discovery, long-form storytelling and advocacy efforts such as the Music Minds Matter initiative, which addresses mental health within the industry.
The collaboration also extends Qobuz’s presence within UK festivals and grassroots culture. Over recent years, the music streamer has supported events such as Brick Lane Jazz Festival, The Great Escape and We Out Here, hosting sessions, recording live performances and spotlighting emerging artists. The Drowned in Sound partnership continues that strategy by linking editorial content with high-quality streaming and curated catalog pathways.
New podcast episodes will be available at drownedinsound.org/podcasts, with companion playlists featured directly on Qobuz.
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