and the distribution of digital products.
Spotify is still building its HiFi promise
Spotify’s long-anticipated “lossless” audio tier, announced over four years ago, has resurfaced in the music app’s code, suggesting ongoing development despite previous delays. References in the desktop app were found by technologist Chris Messina. These may hint at a potential launch.
Code snippets discovered in the Spotify desktop app refer to help cards designed to inform users about the features and troubleshooting of the lossless tier. One card reads, “Lossless music, now in premium,” while another describes it as the “best sound quality on Spotify for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.”
Additional cards caution users about songs unavailable in lossless format and connectivity issues affecting playback, also noting that lossless music is “best enjoyed on devices compatible with Spotify Connect and/or wired devices.”
Reddit user u/bendotlc identified changes in the latest version of the mobile app, with code mentioning lossless: “Say hello to the best sound quality on Spotify. Listen to high-fidelity music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.” TechCrunch corroborated these findings with data from Appsensa. According to the Redditor, the feature is present but currently disabled.
Spotify executives, including CEO Daniel Ek, have alluded to investments in premium products for “super fans” during earnings calls. However, they have not provided a timeframe for launching higher-quality streaming options.
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Spotify Chief Business Officer Alex Norstrom stated on the Q1 2025 call that the company is still investing in more premium tiers, noting, “Now, with regards to higher tiers, we see great potential in them as we’ve mentioned before. So creating higher tiers around new offerings is something we are working towards as it really opens up new opportunities to delight users.”
Spotify initially announced plans for Spotify HiFi in 2021, promising music in “CD-quality, lossless audio format” after years of lossless option tests. Licensing issues were cited as a reason for the delay.
In early 2025, Spotify signed new deals with labels including Warner Music and Universal Music Group. These agreements could facilitate the launch of the lossless tier. Bloomberg reported earlier this year that a premium Music Pro tier, featuring high-quality streaming, remixing, and other features, would launch later in 2025.