Spotify may finally be ready to debut a premium HiFi audio tier

Rumors about a Spotify HiFi tier have been around since at least 2017, and the company even announced plans to launch such a feature in 2021 — only to back off the next year. Now, the company may finally be ready to launch a high-fidelity plan (dubbed "Supremium" internally) that would be its most expensive tier, according to Bloomberg. The aim would be to drive more revenue and address investor demands that it raise its prices. Spotify reportedly delayed rolling out the plan back in 2021 as two of its primary rivals, Apple Music and Amazon Music, started including the feature for no charge in their standard plans. In addition, Spotify may enhance its regular Premium offering with expanded audiobook access, either through a certain number of free hours per month or a specific number of books (with an option to purchase more). Audiobooks are currently only available on Spotify via individual purchases. There's no word on whether audio would be lossless at up to 24-bit and 192kHz, as it is on Apple Music and Amazon Music. Lossless audio generally doesn't work on Bluetooth speakers or headphones (including Apple's AirPods and AirPods Max), due to the high bandwidth, so users need a wired or WiFi setup.Pricing hasn't been revealed, either. Spotify has kept its Premium plan at $9.99/month in the US, unlike Apple and Amazon, which raised their rates to $10.99. CEO Daniel Ek said in a recent earnings call that the company tries to balance subscriber growth with revenue, so... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-06-20 12:38:47 UTC ]
News tagged with: #primary rivals #apple music #pricing hasn #premium plan #audiobook

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EU ready to settle with publishers over ebook price-fixing, but no talks yet

European Union antitrust chief Joaquin Almunia says that the Competition Commission is open to a settlement with publishers in the increasingly high-profile ebook price fixing case, but only if the companies address key regulatory issues. Almunia says regulators are coordinating with the Justice... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook price-fixing #competition commission #justice department #simon schuster #key issue

Finally! Pottermore will open in April

After lengthy beta testing, the Harry Potter website Pottermore will be open to the public starting in early April. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early april

Oneworld snaps up 'Steinbeckian' debut

Oneworld has acquired a novel which tackles male friendship in the late 20th century. World... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #oneworld snaps

S&S secures two from debut 'Picoult' novelist

Simon & Schuster has acquired two books from debut novelist Kimberly McCreight in a "... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ss secures #simon schuster

Stephen King to release audio digital story

Hodder & Stoughton will publish an original audio digital short story by bestselling author... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephen king #hodder stoughton #bestselling author

Swedish debut to Hesperus

Hesperus Press has acquired UK and Ireland rights in a Swedish debut, The Hundred-Year-Old Man... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hesperus press #swedish debut #acquired uk #ireland rights

Century buys Chatterton crime debut

Century has acquired two novels in a new procedural crime series by author Ed Chatterton,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Serpent's Tail acquires 'scandalous' debut

Serpent's Tail has acquired a debut novel it is billing as a "cross between Fingersmith... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Panarea Digital Debuts Nearpod For Schools

Panarea Digital is an ebook, app, and mobile technology developer with a focus on education. The firm has produced interactive ebooks for Barnes & Noble and other companies, but Panarea Digital is now focused on Nearpod, a mobile learning platform that uses the iPad and other mobile devices... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #mobile devices

Prize-winning debut to Hutchinson

Hutchinson has bought Lamb by Bonnie Nazdam, a début novel which won the 2011 Flaherty-... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indigo acquires debut by Irish academic

Orion YA imprint Indigo has acquired a debut novel about "lost memories, lost times and lost... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury ebook sales up nearly 40% in final quarter of 2011

Bloomsbury had a "strong" final three months of 2011, with ebook sales growing "... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Newsnight' editor's debut to No Exit

The debut novel by “Newsnight” economics editor Paul Mason has been acquired by No... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Transworld debut S J Watson tops the charts

Faber Academy graduate S J Watson's début novel, Before I Go to Sleep, has stormed to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Atlantic buys "haunting" Manhattan debut

Atlantic publishing director Margaret Stead has bought a debut novel set in the TriBeCa district... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Aperture Debuts ‘The PhotoBook Review’

Aperture, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to promoting photography, is gearing up for a big year in 2012. In addition to celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, it has teamed with Paris Photo, the annual French photography fair, to launch The PhotoBook Review, a new biannual publication on... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #60th anniversary #photography book

Ziff Davis Enterprise Debuts Live Digital Event for Tablet, Smartphone and Web Consumption

Ealier this month, Ziff Davis Enterprise [ZDE] completed a significant step in its OmniDigital strategy, rolled out earlier this year. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #significant step