Spotify’s Upcoming Lossless Audio Tier
Spotify seems to be on the verge of introducing its highly anticipated lossless music tier.
Recent findings by Chris Messina and Spicetify, reported by TechCrunch and The Verge, indicate that new references to lossless audio have been uncovered in Spotify’s desktop app and web player code.
Furthermore, MacRumors, with help from Aaron Perris, has verified that the latest beta version of the iPhone app includes new code related to lossless audio.
Unlike typical streaming, lossless audio maintains all the audio data from the original recording. One code snippet suggests that Spotify’s lossless audio will support 24-bit at 44.1 kHz, boasting, “Introducing the best sound quality on Spotify: for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.”
According to the beta app’s code, lossless songs will be available for streaming or download on the Spotify app for iPhone. In February, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw shared that Spotify was planning to launch a Music Pro subscription tier that would include higher audio quality, remixing tools, and access to concert tickets, potentially costing up to $5.99 monthly in addition to the standard Spotify Premium fee.
The timeline for Spotify’s rollout of lossless audio remains uncertain, but it is intended to debut later this year. Initially announced in 2021, Spotify’s “Hi-Fi” tier has been delayed, especially compared to Apple Music, which has been offering lossless audio at no extra charge since 2021.
