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Spotify HiFi was announced way back in February 2021 and while we’ve heard very little about it in the meantime, it now looks like a higher tier launch called Platinum is now imminent.
A person who canceled Spotify contacted 9to5Mac (opens in new tab) to say that the email encouraging him to resubscribe mentioned a Spotify Platinum subscription for $19.99 per month (twice the standard price). That Platinum subscription included a mention of Spotify HiFi.
In addition to the high-resolution audio, the email also references features such as Studio Sound, Headphone Tuner, Audio Insights, Library Pro, Playlist Pro, and limited ad Spotify podcasts – although we don’t have any information on what they all involve.
Don’t wait long
The email in question also said the subscription tiers would be available in the next 30 days, suggesting we’ll see Spotify HiFi rolling out within a month – possibly with this new platinum label attached.
Apple Music already includes Lossless audio and the Spatial Audio feature as part of a standard $9.99 / £9.99 / AU$11.99 subscription. With that in mind, it’s possible that those in power at Spotify feel they need to offer more to justify a price hike.
If the information in the resubscribe email is correct, we won’t have long to wait to know for sure – and once Spotify makes an official announcement, you’ll be able to read it here.
Analysis: will the price be right?
The lossless CD-quality audio promised by Spotify HiFi will bring it more in line with services like Apple Music and Tidal, but what’s not clear is how much an extra level of sound quality matters to the average Spotify subscriber.
Asking users to double their monthly payment is going to be a tough sell – if that is indeed the price – and adding some extra features will certainly sweeten the deal. What exactly Library Pro, Playlist Pro and the other features are remains to be seen, but they should refer to some additional functionality.
We’ve seen Spotify expand its reach into podcasts and audiobooks in recent years as it seems to be attracting more monthly subscribers. Getting existing or new subscribers to pay double the going rate every month would also definitely boost the streaming service’s finances.
Spotify itself seemed unsure about exactly when Spotify HiFi would launch, and it seems that question is about to be answered. The next question is how much people will actually pay for it.