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For many years, Spotify users have been holding out hope for one highly anticipated feature: the arrival of lossless, CD-quality audio. First teased in early 2021 under the name Spotify HiFi, the announcement sparked immediate excitement among audio lovers, musicians, and everyday listeners seeking a higher-quality music experience. But while other major platforms like Apple Music and Amazon Music moved swiftly to adopt lossless audio as a core part of their offering, Spotify quietly retreated from the conversation, leaving its users wondering if HiFi had been abandoned altogether.
Fast forward to today, and there’s new evidence suggesting the long wait might finally be over. Recent findings point toward Spotify actively preparing to launch a lossless tier at last—perhaps under a new name and as part of a reimagined premium subscription.
A Long Road With Little Communication
Spotify’s initial promise came during a 2021 “Stream On” event, where the company confirmed it was working on a high-fidelity audio tier, scheduled for release later that year. They called it “Spotify HiFi” and promoted it as a way to bring CD-quality sound to listeners who demanded better audio detail, especially for use with high-end speakers or wired headphones. The announcement was well-received and set expectations high.
However, after that single event, Spotify went quiet. Months passed, then years—with no updates, no betas, and no official statement explaining the delay. Speculation filled the gap. Was Spotify facing licensing issues with record labels? Were they rethinking their approach to compete with Apple and Amazon, who had started offering lossless at no extra cost? Whatever the reason, Spotify stayed vague and noncommittal, offering only occasional mentions of a “deluxe” version of its service that might include HiFi.
Meanwhile, competitors had surged ahead. Apple Music launched its lossless and high-resolution audio support across its entire catalog—completely free to subscribers. Amazon Music HD followed suit. Even Tidal, known for catering to audiophiles, restructured its pricing model to make lossless more accessible. Spotify’s absence grew more glaring with each passing month.
A Technical Trail of Clues Appears
While Spotify still hasn’t made an official announcement confirming the release of a HiFi or lossless tier, tech-savvy users and developers have discovered compelling signs buried in the app’s latest code.
One of the most talked-about revelations came from Spicetify, a tool that allows users to customize their Spotify experience through command-line interfaces. According to posts shared by the developers, the latest version of Spotify includes new internal labels and interface elements referencing “lossless” audio. These mentions aren’t just speculative—they show up in concrete areas of the app, such as the streaming quality settings and options related to device connections via Spotify Connect.
Even more telling, these lossless references were found in the Spotify web player, not just in the native mobile or desktop apps. This means Spotify is laying the groundwork for lossless streaming across platforms, signaling a comprehensive release strategy rather than a small-scale test.
Although the feature isn’t available to users yet, the presence of these internal options suggests that Spotify may be putting the final pieces in place before launch. After years of silence, this is the most hopeful signal yet that the long-promised audio upgrade is nearing release.
Spotify Music Pro: A New Premium Tier?
In addition to these technical findings, industry reporting has also pointed to a potential rebranding of Spotify HiFi. According to a February 2024 report from Bloomberg, Spotify may be preparing to launch a new subscription tier called “Music Pro.” This tier would include high-quality audio streaming and other enhanced features, potentially targeted at music enthusiasts, creators, and superfans who are willing to pay more for advanced tools and premium experiences.
The rumored price point? Around $5.99 per month above the standard Premium plan.
This rebranding could explain the delay—rather than releasing HiFi as a simple audio quality upgrade, Spotify may have chosen to integrate it into a broader package of premium services, designed to generate more revenue while differentiating from competitors offering lossless for free. If Spotify is bundling lossless with exclusive content, AI-driven features, or creator-focused tools, the launch of Music Pro could represent more than just catching up—it could be a strategic pivot toward deeper audience engagement.
Why Lossless Audio Matters More Than Ever
To the average listener, lossless audio might sound like a luxury—an improvement they won’t necessarily notice on basic earbuds or in a noisy car ride. But the appeal of lossless streaming goes far beyond elite audiophiles. It represents a broader movement toward transparency, audio integrity, and respect for the music as it was created.
Lossless audio preserves all the original data from a song’s recording, unlike lossy formats (like MP3 or Ogg Vorbis) that compress the file to save space and bandwidth. This means greater detail, cleaner vocals, richer bass, and wider dynamic range. It’s especially important for those using high-end equipment or studio monitors, where the subtleties of a mix truly shine.
Even for casual listeners, the presence of a lossless option speaks to a brand’s commitment to quality. And for artists and producers, it’s a chance to have their work heard the way it was intended.
In today’s market, where nearly every platform offers “good enough” audio, providing best-in-class fidelity can become a meaningful differentiator—and Spotify knows this.
The Competitive Landscape Has Changed
Spotify may have been the market leader for years, but its competitors are not standing still. Apple Music, with its massive hardware ecosystem, now offers lossless and spatial audio to every subscriber at no additional cost. Amazon Music HD, once a separate tier, has been folded into the main plan. Tidal, which long charged a premium for HiFi, now includes it as part of its standard offering.
In this context, if Spotify charges extra for lossless, it will need to offer significant added value—or risk pushback from users who feel they’re paying more for something others get for free.
Spotify’s edge has always been its recommendation engine, playlists, and seamless user experience, not necessarily its audio quality. By combining lossless with advanced discovery features or personalized content curation, it might convince users that its premium tier is worth the extra investment.
Why the Delay Took So Long
So why didn’t Spotify roll out HiFi when it said it would? There are likely several overlapping reasons.
First, licensing complexities. Streaming in lossless may require renegotiating deals with record labels, especially when it involves increased file sizes and potentially different royalty calculations. Spotify has always walked a tightrope between growth and profitability, so any delay that involved more cost would be scrutinized heavily.
Second, infrastructure costs. Unlike Apple or Amazon, which control massive cloud networks and device ecosystems, Spotify is entirely dependent on its streaming platform to turn a profit. Delivering lossless audio at scale is bandwidth-intensive and could mean significantly higher costs for hosting, streaming, and caching.
Third, strategic reframing. Rather than release a simple audio upgrade that brings them on par with competitors, Spotify may have chosen to take their time and reposition the offering into something broader and more monetizable—hence the reported Music Pro concept.
Will People Actually Pay More?
Here lies the central question: how many users will actually pay extra for something that rivals offer at no cost?
Spotify will need to craft a compelling narrative. If Music Pro becomes more than just a HiFi toggle—if it includes curated experiences, enhanced controls, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive mixes, or even tools for aspiring musicians—it could be seen as a worthwhile upgrade.
Spotify also has a loyal base of creators, listeners, and playlist curators. Giving this community deeper insights, better audio, and more influence might generate real value, especially in the growing intersection of music and creator economy platforms.
At the same time, the company must be careful not to alienate users who’ve waited patiently for years. The announcement and pricing must feel rewarding, not exploitative.
All Eyes on the Finish Line
Right now, Spotify seems to be positioning itself to finally deliver the feature that so many have requested. From code leaks to credible industry reporting, the signals are stronger than ever. Whether it’s branded as HiFi, Music Pro, or something new altogether, lossless audio is no longer a “maybe someday” concept—it appears to be a near-future reality.
Still, this is Spotify’s moment to prove that it hasn’t just been dragging its feet. The company must show that the delay was in service of building something genuinely better—not simply a repackaged copy of what others already offer. If it can do that—if it can elevate HiFi beyond expectations and position it within a broader, future-facing premium experience—it could not only close the feature gap, but reassert its position as an industry innovator.
In the streaming wars of 2025, audio quality is just the starting point. The real competition will be over how music makes us feel, how deeply we engage, and how platforms earn our loyalty. Spotify’s next move could define the next chapter of digital music.
