Spotify, the popular music streaming service, has been teasing its HiFi tier for over two years, but it seems that the wait could be over soon. According to a recent report by The Verge, code within the Spotify app reveals new details about the “Supremium” tier, which could offer 24-bit lossless audio, the ability to create playlists with AI, and more.
What is Spotify HiFi and why does it matter?
Spotify HiFi is a premium subscription plan that would allow users to stream music in high-fidelity, or lossless, quality. This means that the audio files would not be compressed or degraded, preserving the original sound of the recordings. Spotify claims that “high-quality music streaming” has been one of the most requested features by its users.
Lossless audio is appealing to audiophiles and music enthusiasts who want to enjoy the full spectrum of sound and details in their favorite tracks. However, it also requires more bandwidth and storage space, as well as compatible devices and speakers or headphones. Currently, Spotify’s highest audio quality is 320kbps, which is considered “very high” but still lossy.
Spotify is not the only music streaming service that offers lossless audio. Competitors like Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD, and Apple Music have already introduced their own hi-res options, some of them at no extra cost. Spotify HiFi would be a way for the company to catch up with the market and attract more loyal customers.
What are the features of Spotify Supremium?
According to The Verge, code within the Spotify app suggests that the Supremium tier could include more than just lossless audio. Some of the possible features are:
- The ability to create playlists with AI, which could generate personalized recommendations based on your mood, activity, genre, and more.
- Advanced mixing tools, which could let you customize the order of playlists by beats per minute, enable smooth transitions between songs, and filter songs by mood or genre.
- A “soundcheck” feature, which could help you learn more about your listening habits and discover your unique mix of sounds.
- 30 hours of audiobook listening per month, along with the ability to sort your library by mood, activity, and genre.
- A bright green “HiFi” logo that would appear on the playback screen when you are listening to a lossless track.
The code also indicates that the price of Supremium could be $19.99 per month, although this could be a placeholder. This would make it twice as expensive as the current Premium plan, which costs $9.99 per month. It is not clear whether Spotify would offer a free trial or a discount for existing Premium users who want to upgrade.
When will Spotify HiFi launch and where will it be available?
Spotify first announced its HiFi tier in February 2021 at its “Stream On” event, where it featured artists like Billie Eilish and Finneas endorsing the feature. However, since then, the company has been vague about the launch date and availability of HiFi.
In June 2021, Bloomberg reported that Spotify was preparing a new and pricier tier that would likely include HiFi, along with expanded access to audiobooks. The report also said that the tier would launch in select non-US markets first.
In July 2021, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said that HiFi was something that had value for “aficionados” in the streaming market, but did not give any specific timeline or details.
In September 2021, a Reddit user named u/Hypixely posted screenshots of code within the Spotify app that revealed new information about the Supremium tier and its features.
As of now, there is no official confirmation from Spotify about when or where HiFi will launch. However, based on the recent leaks and reports, it seems that it could be coming soon, possibly by the end of 2023.
