Though Spotify HiFi nonetheless hasn’t launched after being introduced greater than two years in the past, some type of lossless expertise remains to be on the best way, Spotify co-president Gustav Söderström mentioned in an interview with The Verge. However don’t get your hopes up for any particular details about when.
“We introduced it, however then the trade modified for a bunch of causes,” Söderström mentioned on the newest episode of Decoder. “We’re going to do it, however we’re going to do it in a approach the place it is sensible for us and for our listeners. The trade modified and we needed to adapt.”
Initially, Spotify mentioned its plan was to launch HiFi as a premium tier by the top of 2021. Since then, Apple Music and Amazon have supplied lossless music at no further cost, and high-fidelity music has additionally unfold to different providers.
When pushed for particulars about how the trade modified or if the delay is because of price, Söderström largely demurred. “We wish to do it in a approach the place it really works for us from a value perspective as properly. I’m not allowed to touch upon our label agreements, nor on what different gamers within the trade did, for apparent causes.”
The Verge has not too long ago realized that Spotify HiFi has been able to go for greater than a 12 months. The technical work to deliver the function to market is essentially full, and the corporate has re-ingested its complete music catalog in lossless high quality. Spotify workers have entry to HiFi. However because it was initially meant to price greater than the usual plan (and thus increase Spotify’s common income per consumer), the launch was spoiled by Apple bundling lossless into Apple Music at no cost. In case you learn into Söderström’s solutions, it’s clear that Spotify doesn’t intend to do the identical. Now you can count on HiFi to ultimately seem as a part of a costlier plan — possible one which additionally consists of spatial audio/Dolby Atmos and different perks associated to audiobooks and podcasts.
As for when you possibly can truly count on to take heed to lossless music on Spotify, all Söderström would affirm is that HiFi “is coming sooner or later.” When you wait, you’ll have a while to regulate to Spotify’s new TikTok-ified redesign.
Replace March 14th, 12:20PM ET: The article has been up to date with extra particulars on the present standing of Spotify HiFi.
