MQA is delivered in a FLAC container. There is no such thing as an MQA container.
You are right my mistake. MQA is a codec transmitted in a FLAC container. Which means you must have a local decoder/renderer to decode it that understands MQA Like the Tidal app or Roon app. If you don't then a non-MQA FLAC file must be sent by the server. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Quality_Authenticated
[QUOTE="Regarding Warner, one week ago I could happily download a lossless FLAC album of my choosing on Tidal - now I can’t. I am not sure why I am the one that needs to explain this change. Why is Warner no longer allowing me to do this?[/QUOTE]
This is what I am trying to understand. I don't yet follow how you've been harmed and am seeking to clarify. In what app are you referring to that you can no longer download a FLAC file? What file can you no longer download? I can still download any Tidal file locally in my Tidal Android app. Including the Aretha Franklin album you mentioned. I can't download any of them outside this app or on my Mac Tidal app and never could. So I am trying to better understand what has changed for you. If I stop paying for Master level Tidal I will stop getting MQA files and will get whatever tier I pay for. Whether it's lossy MP3 or lossless FLAC.