Universal Music Group EVP, digital strategy, Michael Nash, has hailed hi-res audio as “the future of streaming”, following the company’s deal with hi-res audio specialist MQA last week.

The agreement will see Universal’s catalogue encoded with MQA technology, meaning that fans will be able to experience music in hi-res audio on supported streaming platforms.

“It’s very important to focus on quality as digital streaming is evolving,” Nash told Music Week. “There is a three-decade history of technology advancing towards convenience ...