Spotify’s Upcoming Lossless Audio Tier: Code Reveals Technical Specifications and Pricing Rumors
Spotify’s Upcoming Lossless Audio Tier: Code Reveals Technical Specifications and Pricing Rumors
Spotify is reportedly preparing to launch a new subscription tier offering lossless audio streaming. Evidence for this comes from code discovered in recent beta versions of the Spotify desktop app, web player, and iPhone app. These code references indicate the inclusion of 24-bit/44.1 kHz lossless audio, and mention of the FLAC audio format. The lossless audio will be available for both streaming and download within the Spotify app.
Multiple sources have reported on the upcoming tier under various names, including “Music Pro,” “Hi-Fi,” and “Supremium.” While the final name remains unconfirmed, the consistent theme across reports is the addition of a higher-fidelity audio option. The code suggests a setting within the app to select “Lossless” streaming quality, positioned above the existing “Very High” (320kbps MP3) option. This will increase data consumption, with estimates suggesting up to 1 GB per hour of streaming at the lossless setting.
Pricing for the new tier remains uncertain. Bloomberg previously reported Spotify was considering a $5.99 monthly charge in addition to the standard Spotify Premium subscription. Other reports suggest a significantly higher price point, with a “Supremium” tier potentially costing $19.99 per month. This would be double the current price of the standard Premium subscription and comparable to pricing models used by competitors such as Amazon Music HD ($14.99) and Tidal HiFi ($19.99).
Beyond lossless audio, the potential new tier may include additional features. Reports mention the possibility of advanced playlist mixing tools, allowing users to select songs based on tempo, mood, and activity. Enhanced listening statistics, audiobook integration, and AI-powered playlist generation tools have also been suggested. The inclusion of these features, however, remains unconfirmed.
Spotify initially announced plans for a “Hi-Fi” tier with lossless audio in 2021. The delay in its release has been noted, particularly in comparison to Apple Music, which offered lossless audio (up to 24-bit/192 kHz) to subscribers at no extra cost starting in 2021. While Spotify CEO Daniel Ek confirmed plans for a Hi-Fi tier in the past, the exact features, pricing, and launch date remain unannounced.
The discovered code references provide strong indications that Spotify is actively developing a lossless audio tier. However, the company has yet to officially confirm the features, pricing, or release date of this new subscription offering. The discrepancy between reported pricing models suggests further details are expected before the official launch.
The availability of the lossless audio tier is expected to extend beyond mobile apps, with indications that it will be supported on Spotify Connect and the web player. The potential inclusion of additional features beyond lossless audio remains speculative, pending official confirmation from Spotify.
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