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 begin hoping that the long-delayed service could possibly be lastly nearing arrival.
However newly added references within the music app’s code recommend the lossless service is a minimum of nonetheless beneath improvement and will even be getting nearer to launch.
In accordance to technologist and reverse engineer Chris Messina, a lot 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 tip consumer about what the lossless tier provides and find out how to 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 exact songs aren’t obtainable in lossless or when their machine 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 famous 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 present disabled.
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 immediately about lossless and different plans for premium tiers on latest earnings calls with buyers, 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 some other higher-quality streaming choices would lastly launch.
Most not too long ago, Spotify Chief Business Officer Alex Norstrom informed buyers 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 assessments of a lossless possibility within the years earlier than this, nevertheless.
Ultimately, Spotify pointed to licensing points as the rationale for its delay in launching.
In what could possibly be promising information on that entrance, the streamer signed new offers with labels together with Warner Music and Common Music Group in early 2025, which might pave the best way 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.
