It’s been over 4 years since Spotify first introduced its plans to launch a lossless audio tier that has but to reach.
After quite a few leaks and teases from firm execs, we all know higher than to start out hoping that the long-delayed service might be lastly nearing arrival.
However newly added references within the music app’s code counsel the lossless service is not less than nonetheless underneath growth and will even be getting nearer to launch.
According to technologist and reverse engineer Chris Messina, plenty of references to “lossless” have popped up in Wednesday’s construct of the Spotify desktop app.
These code snippets primarily refer to assist playing cards that would seem to tell the top consumer about what the lossless tier gives and how you can use or troubleshoot the service.
As an example, one card says, “Lossless music, now in premium,” whereas one other describes it because the “best sound quality on Spotify for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.”
A number of the playing cards warn customers that specific songs aren’t accessible in lossless or when their gadget has dangerous connectivity, which might have an effect on playback. One other notes that lossless music is “best enjoyed on devices compatible with Spotify Connect and/or wired devices.”
As well as, Reddit consumer u/bendotlc noted that different modifications have been seen within the newest model of the cellular app, the place the code now mentions lossless: “Say hello to the best sound quality on Spotify. Listen to high-fidelity music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.” The Redditor claims the characteristic is definitely current within the app, however is at the moment disabled. (TechCrunch confirmed these claims with knowledge supplied by Appsensa, see under.)
After all, code references don’t imply the lossless characteristic is coming anytime quickly.
As we’ve seen in earlier years, leaks and code references have appeared earlier than, and but the high-quality audio tier by no means arrived.
When requested instantly about lossless and different plans for premium tiers on current earnings calls with traders, Spotify execs, together with CEO Daniel Ek, would solely trace that the corporate was investing in premium merchandise for “super fans.” They wouldn’t give a timeframe on when these or another higher-quality streaming choices would lastly launch.
Most lately, Spotify Chief Enterprise Officer Alex Norstrom informed traders on the Q1 2025 name that Spotify was nonetheless investing in additional premium tiers.
“Now, with regards to higher tiers, we see great potential in them as we’ve mentioned before,” he stated. “So creating higher tiers around new offerings is something we are working towards as it really opens up new opportunities to delight users,” Norstrom stated on the time.
When Spotify first introduced its plans for Spotify HiFi, because it was then known as, in 2021, it stated that the service would supply customers music in “CD-quality, lossless audio format.” It had run tests of a lossless choice within the years earlier than this, nonetheless.
Ultimately, Spotify pointed to licensing points as the explanation for its delay in launching.
In what might be promising information on that entrance, the streamer signed new offers with labels together with Warner Music and Universal Music Group in early 2025, which might pave the way in which for the lossless tier — or so music followers hope.
Bloomberg additionally reported earlier this yr {that a} premium Music Professional tier would launch later in 2025, which would come with high-quality streaming, remixing, and different options.
Spotify declined to touch upon this report.
Up to date after publication with further knowledge from Spotify’s cellular app.
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