Dolphin (NASDAQ:DLPN) congratulates its subsidiary Shore Fire Media and the creative communications agency's client Qobuz, the independently owned high-quality music streaming and download platform, on being named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2026 in the Entertainment & Gaming category. This year's list recognizes 300 groundbreaking inventions making the world better, smarter and more fun.

Qobuz brings the expertise and discovery of an independent record store to digital listening, combining high-resolution sound with human-curated recommendations, original music journalism and exclusive releases. Its approach puts artists and their work at the center of the experience, giving listeners more ways to explore the music they love.

In 2026, Qobuz experienced a breakthrough year on the heels of unprecedented subscriber growth beginning the previous year. The platform has continued to lead the industry in sound quality, music discovery and transparency through new features and initiatives that bring listeners closer to the music and the people who make it. Highlights include a redesigned player with synchronized lyrics and expanded access to recording credits and editorial content, an AI Charter and new tags identifying AI-generated music, and continued expansion of Qobuz Connect, which lets listeners stream directly to compatible audio playback equipment from the Qobuz apps.

That same commitment extends to its work with artists and the wider music community. Recent highlights include exclusive streaming of yasiin bey's "The Ecstatic," a partnership with Sylvan Esso spanning global listening events and an exclusive live release, and the restoration and release of 77 performances from Alan Lomax's "American Patchwork" recordings. Partnerships with Rough Trade, KCRW and the Newport Festivals Foundation further connect Qobuz listeners with independent music culture, on the platform and in person. Qobuz's commitment to independent music was also recognized with the Independent Champion Award at the 2026 Libera Awards, presented by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), honoring its support for independent artists and labels.

"On Qobuz, there are no ads, playlists are curated by humans, and the streamer confirms it pays higher royalties per stream than its competitors," TIME said.