Spotify's CEO, Daniel Ek, has reaffirmed the company's commitment to providing you with higher-quality music. During a recent earnings call, he assured users that Spotify is actively working on a higher-quality streaming tier offering lossless and high-resolution audio. However, he noted that this new tier is still in its early stages.
Deluxe version details
Ek elaborated that the new tier will offer a much better version of Spotify, potentially priced around S$17 or S$18, or about S$5 more than the current premium tier. This deluxe version will include all the benefits of the standard Spotify service but with enhanced control, significantly higher quality, and additional features that Ek still needs to disclose.
Spotify plans to make this deluxe version more attractive by incorporating features beyond high-quality music. Speculation suggests that this premium tier might feature AI-powered playlists, advanced library management, and other enhancements.
Competition and challenges
This development comes in response to competitors like Apple and Amazon, which added lossless and high-resolution music to their services at no extra cost in 2021. Spotify initially announced its intention to offer a hi-fi streaming tier around the same time, but it has taken longer to materialise.
Reasons behind the delay
The delay in Spotify's hi-fi offering remains a mystery, though it appears the company was taken aback by how quickly and inexpensively its competitors introduced hi-fi music. Nonetheless, Spotify is committed to delivering a deluxe version that will exceed its users' high expectations.
