What it’s good to know
- Spotify introduced a brand new HiFi tier in 2021 that would offer customers with lossless audio, however at a worth.
- A yr later, the characteristic was apparently delayed “indefinitely.”
- Spotify’s co-president just lately acknowledged that the characteristic remains to be coming, however didn’t reveal when.
- Different apps have since rolled out lossless audio at no further value to customers, which has apparently dirty Spotify’s plans.
It has been an extended look ahead to Spotify HiFi, the app’s upcoming lossless audio tier, which promised to supply customers with CD-quality, lossless audio on their suitable headphones and audio system. Nonetheless, it appears we’ll maintain ready for a while, as Spotify cannot appear to determine one of the simplest ways to roll out the characteristic.
In an interview with The Verge, Spotify’s co-president Gustav Söderström acknowledged that one of many causes for the characteristic’s prolonged delay is that “the business modified for a bunch of causes.”
Spotify initially introduced its plans for a brand new HiFi tier again in early 2021 (it is actually been that lengthy), however the characteristic was apparently set to launch as an add-on that might value customers further. Nonetheless, the business “modified” in a short time, as Apple quickly launched lossless audio for Apple Music at no further value to subscribers. Amazon quickly adopted swimsuit by not charging further for HD streaming.
It goes with out saying that Spotify didn’t launch its HiFi tier when it mentioned it will, and the next yr, a consultant mentioned that the characteristic was delayed indefinitely. Primarily based on Söderström, that also appears to be the case.
“We’re going to do it, however we’ll do it in a approach the place it is sensible for us and for our listeners,” he instructed The Verge, with out going into element on launch specifics. “We wish to do it in a approach the place it really works for us from a value perspective as properly.”
Spotify has since launched many new options and adjustments to the app over time, together with its newest house display revamp and new AI DJ.
For now, it appears now we have to attend for any HiFi audio on Spotify, which is a disgrace seeing as the way it has the most important subscriber base of any music streaming service. In keeping with The Verge, the characteristic has been prepared for over a yr, with Spotify workers already utilizing it.
Some specialists agree that it is laborious for firms to justify charging extra for lossless audio. Phillip Donaldson, an audio engineer at Canada’s largest tv and sports activities networks, instructed Android Central final yr that lossless audio is “a distinct segment factor…. most individuals would not even know the distinction.” The consensus amongst specialists appeared to be that it’s only a advertising and marketing time period used to lure customers. It is also potential that Apple and Amazon are basically “freely giving” lossless audio to assist enhance their {hardware} gross sales, one thing Spotify does not have.
Primarily based on Söderström’s feedback, every time the characteristic does arrive, it appears greater than possible that it will value customers further. Nonetheless, if that is the case, Spotify might must persuade customers that it is value it when different providers provide it totally free.
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