Spotify is set to introduce its own much ballyhooed lossless audio tier. Even still, this project has taken over four years to develop. The streaming behemoth first killed the surprise when it announced plans to roll out this lossless audio alternative back in February 2021. Optimistically, recent discoveries indicate that the firm is moving in the right direction. They’ve added support for “lossless” in their desktop client and mobile app.
Technologist Chris Messina found traces of the lossless feature in the code that powers the Spotify desktop application. This code includes help cards that inform users about the new offering, describing lossless music as “now in premium” and promoting it as delivering the “best sound quality on Spotify for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.” These types of specs are a clear sign that Spotify is trying to appeal to audiophiles with their offerings by giving them better, higher-quality sound.
Messina revealed some pretty cool discoveries. At the same time, Reddit user u/bendotlc noticed new creative control features in version 8.4. Recent changes to the Spotify mobile app. The updated code mentions lossless audio, stating, “Say hello to the best sound quality on Spotify. Listen to high-fidelity music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.” This aligns with Spotify’s broader strategy of creating higher tiers around new offerings, which presents opportunities to engage and delight users.
Tidal and Amazon weren’t the only ones with lossless audio formats, though — Spotify tested a lossless audio option in recent years. The feature has not officially launched thus far. While past leaks and code references have appeared, this latest move is a huge change in tone. That’s a terrific signal of Spotify’s dedication to following through on providing the long-promised high-quality audio tier.
Alex Norstrom, Spotify’s Chief Freemium Business Officer, commented on the company’s plans regarding higher tiers. He stated, “Now, with regards to higher tiers, we see great potential in them as we’ve mentioned before.” He further elaborated on the importance of these new offerings, saying, “So creating higher tiers around new offerings is something we are working towards as it really opens up new opportunities to delight users.”
The buzz around Spotify’s forthcoming lossless audio tier speaks to the increasing appetite among listeners for better sound quality. High-fidelity audio will help increase Spotify’s competitive edge as the battle for dominance between music streaming platforms heats up.