It’s been over 4 years since Spotify first announced 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 may very well be lastly nearing arrival.
However newly added references within the music app’s code counsel the lossless service is a minimum of nonetheless beneath improvement and will even be getting nearer to launch.
According to technologist and reverse engineer Chris Messina, a variety 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 person about what the lossless tier affords and the best way to use or troubleshoot the service.
As an example, one card says, “Lossless music, now in premium,” whereas one other describes it because the “finest sound high quality on Spotify for music in as much as 24-bit/44.1 kHz.”
Among the playing cards warn customers that exact songs aren’t accessible in lossless or when their machine has unhealthy connectivity, which might have an effect on playback. One other notes that lossless music is “finest loved on gadgets appropriate with Spotify Join and/or wired gadgets.”
As well as, Reddit person u/bendotlc noted that different adjustments have been seen within the newest model of the cell app, the place the code now mentions lossless: “Say howdy to one of the best sound high quality on Spotify. Hearken to high-fidelity music in as much as 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 information offered 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 latest earnings calls with buyers, Spotify execs, together with CEO Daniel Ek, would solely trace that the corporate was investing in premium merchandise for “tremendous followers.” 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 Enterprise Officer Alex Norstrom advised buyers on the Q1 2025 name that Spotify was nonetheless investing in additional premium tiers.
“Now, as regards to increased tiers, we see nice potential in them as we’ve talked about earlier than,” he mentioned. “So creating increased tiers round new choices is one thing we’re working in the direction of because it actually opens up new alternatives to thrill customers,” Norstrom mentioned on the time.
When Spotify first announced its plans for Spotify HiFi, because it was then known as, in 2021, it mentioned 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, nevertheless.
Ultimately, Spotify pointed to licensing issues as the explanation for its delay in launching.
In what may very well 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 extra information from Spotify’s cell app.
