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 ]
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 13-game anthology debuts August 30th

Shredder's Revenge is great if you want a modern take on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles beat-'em-ups, but what if you'd rather stick with the classics? You won't have to wait long to revisit those, either. Digital Eclipse, Konami and Nickelodeon have announced that TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-07-22 14:00:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #anthology #golden era #bundle includes


Noemi Press Readies for a New Era

The Blacksburg, Va.-based press has named two staff members copublishers after its cofounder and publisher, Carmen Giménez, was hired away by Graywolf Press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Walmart Live Book Club to Make Debut on TalkShopLive

Casey McQuiston's 'I Kissed Shara Wheeler' will be the first title featured in the Walmart Live Book Club, with McQuiston appearing on the TalkShopLive platform tonight. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Macmillan Audio Releases Audiobook Version of Three Key Supreme Court Abortion Rulings

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling on abortion, Macmillan Audio is publishing an audiobook edition of three key cases. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Is the Book Sales Boom Finally Over?

After two straight years of solid growth, print book sales fell 6.6% in the first half of 2022. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A 'Jane the Virgin' writer shares the story 'Hollywood wasn't quite ready to tell'

Rafael Agustin dishes about "Illegally Yours," his candid new memoir about a childhood without documents, and the TV pilot that never made it. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-07-07 13:00:42 UTC ]
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“The Act of Mourning Itself is a Final, Destitute Version of Love.” A Reading List For the Grieving

Grief is one of those experiences that seems like a black-out to me. To comprehend the magnitude of what death really means—that concept of forever—is so challenging on an intellectual level that part of us shuts down in response so we can attend to the thought. Or use all our energy to escape... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-30 08:51:08 UTC ]
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Spotify Completes Findaway Purchase

Spotify has completed its acquisition of digital audiobook distributor Findaway. The Swedish streaming giant has 422 million monthly active users, and will use the Findaway purchase to speed its growth in the audiobook market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In Final Order, Court Declares Maryland's Library E-book Law Unconstitutional

The final order declares Maryland's groundbreaking, controversial library e-book law preempted by the Federal Copyright Act and blocks its enforcement, all but ending a months-long lawsuit filed by the Association of American Publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Audio Publishers Association: US Audiobook Revenues Reach $1.6 Billion in 2021

Growth in audiobook revenue by genre was led in 2021 by romance, self-help, and science-fiction per the Audio Publishers Association. The post Audio Publishers Association: US Audiobook Revenues Reach $1.6 Billion in 2021 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-07 15:41:05 UTC ]
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Abu Dhabi International Book Fair’s Final Exhibitor Tally: 1,130 Publishers

Exhibiting publishers from more than 80 nations participated in an Abu Dhabi International Book Fair that staged more than 650 events. The post Abu Dhabi International Book Fair’s Final Exhibitor Tally: 1,130 Publishers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-06 21:38:24 UTC ]
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TV ad leaders say Nielsen measurement alternatives not ready for prime time

Measurement solutions from iSpot.TV and Samba TV, among others, are buzzy at this year’s upfronts, but won't see much action. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2022-05-26 14:00:29 UTC ]
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Deborah James’s second and final book tops Amazon chart ahead of publication

The columnist and podcaster’s How to Live When You Could Be Dead is out in August heads the bestsellers listPre-orders of Deborah James’s second book have soared within days of it becoming available. The podcast host’s memoir-cum-self-help volume is topping the Amazon UK bestsellers list, ahead... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-05-19 11:47:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #final book #brought forward #richard osman #podcast host


ABA to Debut Virtual Children's Conference

The American Booksellers Association is launching a Virtual Children’s Institute on July 13; the daylong digital event includes online education sessions, bookseller idea exchanges, and keynote speeches. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon’s massively upgraded Fire 7 tablet finally supports USB-C charging

Lingering Micro-USB ports are the bane of consumer electronics. Every time I see an allegedly “new” gadget with one of those fragile, asymmetrical charging tips I cringe. Following in the footsteps of its Kindle e-readers, Amazon is updating its phenomenally popular base model Fire Android... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-05-18 14:09:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #kindle #vibrant colors #extra $20 #video playback #battery life


Black Women, Black Voices: Debut Memoirists on Career and Publishing

PW, in partnership with Amazon Publishing, presents this panel— scheduled for May 25, 1:30–2:30 p.m. ET, and moderated by Regina Brooks, the founder and president of Serendipity Literary Agency—in which Cin Fabré, Bria Adimora Godley, Danielle Prescod, and Aomawa Shields discuss their... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #forthcoming books #corporate america #regina brooks #black voices #black women #amazon publishing


The iPod created the two-headed monster that finally killed it

The iPod's death has been a long time coming. Somehow, it's already been eight years since Apple discontinued the iconic iPod classic. Nonetheless, the news this week that Apple is discontinuing its last iPod, the touch is significant: This officially marks the official end of a product that set... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-05-13 13:00:47 UTC ]
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Bono has finally done it. He’s written his memoir. And it’s going to be published.

Look, The Joshua Tree was the first album I ever bought with my own money. I have a soft spot for U2, up to and including Achtung Baby (I guess). And I suppose a memoir by one of the biggest rock stars of a generation is to be expected, particularly one who’s assumed an often […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-05-10 13:35:33 UTC ]
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Senate Chaplain Barry Black Debuts a Book for Kids

ZonderKidz will publish U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black’s picture book, ‘A Prayer for Our Country: Words to Unite and Inspire Hope,’ on June 7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #picture book


Your Kindle can finally read ePub books

Amazon might be feeling the competition in the e-reader market for the first time since…well, ever. Kindle e-readers use their own proprietary Amazon format to display e-books, AZW3, which keeps most users from loading up a bunch of copyright-free books in the most common ePub format. But... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-05-03 17:38:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #kindle #digital book #market position #stylus support #ebook readers