Leaked Spotify HiFi interface (Image: Jane Manchun Wong / Twitter)
Spotify may soon launch a new subscription tier with lossless audio streaming, Bloomberg reports. The tier, internally called "Supremium," could debut later this year in some markets outside the US. Spotify first announced its plans for lossless streaming, dubbed "Spotify HiFi," in February 2021 but has yet to deliver on the feature.
Spotify may have delayed the move due to its rivals, Amazon Music and Apple Music, which added lossless streaming to their standard plans at no extra cost.
Spotify’s co-president Gustav Söderström told The Verge in March that the company was still working on HiFi, but had to adapt to the changing industry and figure out the economics of the feature. Spotify has not revealed how much it will charge for HiFi, but a survey last year suggested it could be USD 19.99 (around CAD 26) as part of a "Platinum" plan. The survey also hinted at audiobook access as a possible perk. Spotify's Premium subscription right now costs CAD 9.99 for individual accounts.
Bloomberg says Spotify may start offering audiobooks as part of its current Premium tier in the US from October and earlier in other regions. Spotify already sells audiobooks individually. Spotify declined to comment on the report, saying it is always looking for ways to improve its product and offer value to users.