Latest news with #SpotifyHiFi
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
When will Spotify get lossless audio? Code references once again say it is coming
Spotify's long-rumoured lossless audio tier has been on hold for a long time, but now new signs suggest it might finally launch soon. Despite promising a high-fidelity streaming option back in 2021, dubbed Spotify HiFi at the time, the company is yet to announce the feature. But some tipsters have been digging into Spotify's latest desktop app update and concluded that the long wait could soon be per a report by TechCrunch, Chris Messina, a technologist and reverse engineer, was among the first to highlight new code references to 'lossless' in the most recent version of Spotify's desktop client. These tantalising fragments appear to involve help cards that would guide listeners on using the feature, a strong signal that the service hasn't been forgotten. TechCrunch also picked up on the findings, reporting that these snippets include phrases like 'Lossless music, now in premium,' as well as descriptions pointing to 'the best sound quality on Spotify for music up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.'If that weren't enough, other help cards imply lossless playback might come with caveats. One mentions that certain tracks won't support lossless playback, while another suggests that a stable internet connection is a must for buffer-free streaming. Yet another tip advises that lossless audio is 'best enjoyed on devices compatible with Spotify Connect and/or wired devices,' which would make sense given the bandwidth requirements for high-resolution And it's not just Messina making these discoveries. The X account for Spicetify, a popular command-line tool that lets you modify the Spotify client, shared screenshots of what looks like a hidden lossless setting buried in the app's streaming-quality options. Spicetify also noted seeing lossless references across Spotify Connect and in the web player, further fanning the flames of anticipation. Although these tiny breadcrumbs will excite audiophiles and die-hard Spotify users alike, there's still no official word on a launch date. The company first unveiled its plans for a lossless tier back in 2021, promising CD-quality sound for premium listeners. However, those ambitions appeared to stall, with licensing roadblocks often cited as a key factor. Spotify even told investors at one point that licensing hurdles were delaying the rollout. That picture could be looking rosier this year, especially after the streamer inked new deals with major labels like Warner Music and Universal Music Group in early 2025, a move that might have smoothed over earlier rights issues. If those agreements have cleared the way, then lossless audio may finally make its debut as part of a premium subscription the timing would fit neatly with other developments, too. Bloomberg previously reported that Spotify was preparing a top-tier 'Music Pro' subscription for later this year, bundling high-quality audio with extra perks like remix tools and other advanced features. Given these app hints and the new licensing deals, a formal announcement could well be on the now, though, there's still an air of 'wait and see' around Spotify's lossless ambitions. But as the company quietly lays the groundwork with these sneaky code references and revamped agreements, it looks increasingly like one of streaming music's most elusive upgrades is on its way, at long In
The Verge
19 hours ago
- The Verge
Spotify's HiFi lossless streaming might really, finally, actually be coming soon
We've been waiting for Spotify's lossless streaming for more than four years, but there are some new and promising hints that the feature might finally arrive sometime soon. The X account for Spicetify, a command-line tool that lets you customize the Spotify client, says that a new version of Spotify includes some hidden mentions of lossless. In a screenshot the account shared, for example, lossless appears in the sidebar to connect a device. Another screenshot shows lossless as an option for streaming quality in the app's settings. The Spicetify account also says it has seen code that lossless will be available on Spotify Connect and in the web player. To be clear: Spotify's lossless streaming still isn't available yet. But these small lossless mentions and recent reporting indicate that the company may be ready to add lossless at long last. Spotify initially announced a 'Spotify HiFi' tier in 2021 that it intended to launch that year, but that didn't happen. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said in 2024 that the company was working on a 'deluxe' version of Spotify. And in February, Bloomberg reported that Spotify was aiming to roll out a new 'Music Pro' tier with features like higher-quality streaming by the end of this year. The tier could cost as much as $5.99 per month more than its current subscriptions, Bloomberg says.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Most expensive Spotify bills ever ‘incoming' as membership change ‘makes your songs sound even better for extra fee'
SPOTIFY bills are set to become more expensive than ever amid reports the global streaming service is moving forward with its long-awaited "lossless" audio feature. The new development was spotted by a reverse engineer who found multiple mentions of "lossless" in Wednesday's build of the Spotify desktop app. Advertisement 1 This is the first sign the 'lossless audio' service is still under development at Spotify These code snippets mainly refer to help cards that would appear to inform users about what the lossless tier offers and how to use or troubleshoot it. It's been more than four years since the company first announced its plans to launch a "lossless audio" tier that has yet to arrive. While there have been numerous leaks and teases from company execs, this is the first sign the service is still under development. Sites such as Tech Crunch are reporting that the code indicates the feature could even be getting closer to launch. Advertisement According Chris Messina, the engineer who uncovered the roll out, one card says, 'Lossless music, now in premium,' while another describes it as the 'best sound quality on Spotify for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz'. Some of the cards warn users that particular songs aren't available in lossless or when their device has bad connectivity, which could affect playback. Another notes that lossless music is 'best enjoyed on devices compatible with In addition, Reddit user u/bendotlc noted that other changes were seen in the latest version of the mobile app, where the code now mentions lossless . Advertisement Most read in Tech Exclusive Exclusive How to save money on Spotify They wrote: 'Say hello to the best sound quality on Spotify. Listen to high-fidelity music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.' The user claimed the feature is actually present in the app, but is currently disabled. Of course, code references don't mean the lossless feature is coming anytime soon. Leaks and code references have appeared before, and yet the high-quality audio tier never arrived. Advertisement When asked directly about lossless and other plans for premium tiers on recent earnings calls with investors, Spotify execs, including CEO Daniel Ek, would only hint that the company was investing in premium products for 'super fans'. They wouldn't give a time frame on when these or any other higher-quality streaming options would finally launch. Most recently, 'Now, with regards to higher tiers, we see great potential in them as we've mentioned before,' he said. 'So creating higher tiers around new offerings is something we are working towards as it really opens up new opportunities to delight users." Advertisement When Spotify first announced its plans for Spotify HiFi, as it was then called, in 2021, it said that the service would offer users music in 'CD-quality, lossless audio format.' It had run tests of a lossless option in the years before this, however. Eventually, Spotify pointed to licensing issues as the reason for its delay in launching. In what could be promising news on that front, the streamer signed new deals with labels including Warner Music and Universal Music Group in early 2025, which could pave the way for the lossless tier — or so music fans hope. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Bloomberg also reported earlier this year that a premium Music Pro tier would launch later in 2025, which would include high-quality streaming, remixing, and other features. Spotify declined to comment on the Bloomberg report. How fraudsters use AI and bots to squeeze royalties out of Spotify, Deezer and the rest Fraudsters are flooding Spotify, Apple Music and the rest with AI-generated tracks, to try and hoover up the royalties generated by people listening to them. These tracks are cheap, quick and easy to make, with Deezer estimating in April that over 20,000 fully AI-created tracks – that's 18% of new tracks – were being ingested into its platform daily, almost double the number in January. The fraudsters often then use bots, AI or humans to endlessly listen to these fake songs and generate revenue, while others are exploiting upload services to get fake songs put on real artists' pages and siphon off royalties that way. Aurelien Herault, Chief Innovation Officer, Deezer, said: 'AI generated content continues to flood streaming platforms like Deezer, and we see no sign of it slowing down. "Generative AI has the potential to positively impact music creation and consumption, but we need to approach the development with responsibility and care in order to safeguard the rights and revenues of artists and songwriters, while maintaining transparency for the fans. "Thanks to our cutting-edge tool we are already removing fully AI generated content from the algorithmic recommendations.'
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HiFi audio could finally land on Spotify with a top-up scheme in 2025
All the way back in 2021, Spotify confirmed that a new tier of its music streaming service with high fidelity audio output was in development. Four years laters, that aural nirvana is still nowhere to be seen. That might finally change this year. According to Bloomberg, Spotify will roll out a new 'super fan' subscription add-on that will bring higher quality audio streaming to its platform. Other benefits include access to remixing tools for mixing songs using AI and the ability to buy concert tickets. Now, before you get your hopes up, here's the standard dose of caution. This is not the first time we're hearing about the imminent launch of Spotify HiFi, as similar speculations emerged in 2024, as well. So, when exactly is the service launching? We only have a 'later this year' timeline, according to Bloomberg, but it seems the company will be hawking its new product under the Spotify Pro label. Pricing and release timeline haven't been set in stone as Spotify is still hashing out the licensing details with music labels. As per the report, Spotify is currently mulling a $6 add-on for the different bundles it offers in the US market. The pricing will likely vary for other markets, especially developing countries, where the subscriptions cost lower. In the span that Spotify has continued to develop its hi-res music streaming system, the likes of Amazon, Apple, and Tidal have continued to strengthen their presence in the audiophile community with their respective high fidelity music streaming products. At the moment, Spotify's peak audio bit rate goes only up to 320kbps. When the company revealed plans for Spotify HiFi, it promised 'CD-quality, lossless audio' without going into the technical details. This is what Spotify currently has to offer: To put that into perspective, the 'Low' tier of Tidal offers up to 320 kbps range. As you go higher to the 'Max' level where the HiRes FLAC codec comes into the picture, the figures climb up to 24-bit, 192 kHz range. Apple Music, for comparison, offers a range of 16-bit/44.1 kHz (which the company refers to as CD Quality) to 24-bit/192 kHz with its 'lossless' upgrade. Notably, Apple doesn't charge extra cash for its high-quality streaming perk. Amazon Music's Unlimited tier delivers a sample rate of 44.1 kHz with a peak bitrate of 850 kbps. Tracks labeled as Ultra-HD reach a 24-bit depth (44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz) at an average bitrate of 3,730 kbps. Other benefits of the $6 Spotify Pro add-on might include priority access to ticket sales and beat seat choices for concerts. Spotify already offers a curated live events feed that lets you find concerts happening nearby. Spotify plans currently start at $5.99 per month (for students) in the US, $11.99 for individuals, and go all the way up to $19.99 for the family plan. Convincing music enthusiasts to spend nearly 50% higher tariff for accessing hi-res music, especially in the face of lower-priced competition, won't be a cakewalk for the company.
