Qobuz Sponsors KCRW’s New Series ‘Must Listen,’ Strengthening Their Commitment To Independent Radio

NEW YORK, October 9, 2026 - Qobuz, the independent high-quality music streaming and download platform, today announced its partnership with KCRW as presenting sponsor of Must Listen, the station's weekly series in which musicians and cultural tastemakers choose one essential album from KCRW's music library. The partnership is part of a broader Qobuz commitment to independent and public radio, the places where music discovery is still driven by taste, trust, and real human voices.

The premise is simple: browse the shelves, choose an essential record, and leave a handwritten note for the next person who discovers it. Each episode offers a personal look at the music that has shaped a guest's life and creative work, giving fans new listening recommendations straight from the artists themselves.

In one installment, Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker explore the library together and share their picks, while Radiohead's Ed O'Brien says in his episode, "This is the best music library that I've ever seen at a radio station. It's definitely the coolest." Vampire Weekend's Rostam appears in the latest episode, released October 6th.

Watch Liz Phair and Corin Tucker's episode HERE , and explore the series HERE .

KCRW joins a growing list of Qobuz radio partners that includes Memphis community station WYXR, Martha's Vineyard's WMVY and the syndicated SHEROES radio show and podcast. That work sits alongside Qobuz's music-first partnerships with Rough Trade, Newport Festivals Foundation, Brick Lane Jazz Festival and Chicago-based independent label International Anthem. Qobuz's sponsorship reflects a shared commitment with KCRW and the independent radio community to human curation, intentional listening, and artist discovery. Alongside these partners, Qobuz brings that mission to life through exclusive compilations and releases, expert-curated playlists, in-depth editorial content, live events, and partnerships that connect its dedicated community of listeners more closely with the music they love.

This is the first in a series of announcements on Qobuz's support for independent and public radio, with more partnerships to come in the months ahead.

Founded in 2007 and a pioneer of high-quality sound, Qobuz is the French music streaming and download platform for those who want to live and share their passion for music. Available in 26 countries across Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, and Japan, Qobuz is aimed at all those seeking an authentic and fulfilling musical experience.

With more than 100 million tracks in lossless quality - CD, Hi-Res (24-bit/up to 192 kHz), DXD, and DSD - Qobuz offers the richest Hi-Res catalog on the market, recognized by the world's leading hi-fi brands. It stands out for its commitment to preserving original recordings, in addition to its human touch with unique editorial content, expertly curated playlists, liner notes, and more.

In March 2025, Qobuz became the first streaming platform to have its average payout rate per stream officially validated by an independent audit, confirming a rate of US$0.01873 - officially the highest in the industry. The platform peaked at #4 on the iOS App Store in 2025 and more than doubled its new user base. Qobuz is licensed for Hi-Res audio by the Japan Audio Society (JAS).

For more information, visit qobuz.com