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 may very well be lastly nearing arrival.
However newly added references within the music app’s code counsel the lossless service is at the least nonetheless below growth and will even be getting nearer to launch.
In accordance to technologist and reverse engineer Chris Messina, numerous references to “lossless” have popped up in Wednesday’s construct of the Spotify desktop app.
Picture Credit:screenshot from Chris Messina
These code snippets primarily refer to assist playing cards that would seem to tell the top consumer about what the lossless tier gives and the right way to use or troubleshoot the service.
As an illustration, 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.”
A few of the playing cards warn customers that individual songs aren’t accessible in lossless or when their gadget has unhealthy connectivity, which may have an effect on playback. One other notes that lossless music is “finest loved on units appropriate with Spotify Join and/or wired units.”
Picture Credit:screenshot from Chris Messina
As well as, Reddit consumer u/bendotlc famous that different modifications had been seen within the newest model of the cellular app, the place the code now mentions lossless: “Say hey to one of the best sound high quality on Spotify. Take heed 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.
In fact, 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 straight about lossless and different plans for premium tiers on latest earnings calls with traders, 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 another higher-quality streaming choices would lastly launch.
Most not too long ago, Spotify Chief Enterprise Officer Alex Norstrom advised traders on the Q1 2025 name that Spotify was nonetheless investing in additional premium tiers.
“Now, close to greater tiers, we see nice potential in them as we’ve talked about earlier than,” he stated. “So creating greater tiers round new choices is one thing we’re working in the direction of because it actually opens up new alternatives to please customers,” 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 provide customers music in “CD-quality, lossless audio format.” It had run exams of a lossless possibility within the years earlier than this, nonetheless.
Finally, Spotify pointed to licensing points 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 Common Music Group in early 2025, which may pave the way in which for the lossless tier — or so music followers hope.
Bloomberg additionally reported earlier this 12 months {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.
