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: #apple music #audiobook

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S&S releases Graham Swift backlist in audio

Simon & Schuster UK has released a selection of titles from Graham Swift's backlist in audio for the first time.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-25 14:47:37 UTC ]
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Yinka… are you ready for media?

In her series of columns Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, debut author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? (Viking), reveals all about the reality behind the dream of being published. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-24 18:40:43 UTC ]
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Spotify unveils a new hub for Netflix soundtracks, playlists and podcasts

After doing the same for Disney, Spotify has launched a Netflix hub bringing all of the streaming service's soundtracks, playlists and podcasts into one place. While many of Netflix's soundtracks were already on Spotify, the new feature puts all content related to the service in one place. That... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-23 13:00:54 UTC ]
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6 Memoirs on Audio Read by Their Authors

Audiobook performances by talented narrators is wonderful, but an audiobook memoir read by its author gives such a personal touch. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-23 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Usborne snaps up Owen's 'high-octane' middle grade debut

Usborne has snapped up YA author David Owen’s first foray into middle-grade fiction, billed as “an irresistibly funny, high-octane” adventure series with eco themes. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-21 20:50:48 UTC ]
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Trade wary of audio monopoly after buyouts as Dohle warns on streaming

Penguin Random House chief Markus Dohle has said the publisher is sceptical of streaming platforms as a viable method to distribute audiobooks, following recent buyouts by audio firms. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-19 18:47:42 UTC ]
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Macmillan Children's pre-empts Brooks' YA debut in seven-figure global deal

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group has swooped for Promise Boys, the debut YA thriller by award-winning filmmaker Nick Brooks, in a seven-figure pre-empt. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-18 02:50:43 UTC ]
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May and Garmus among key debuts at Doubleday spring showcase

Nikki May’s hotly anticipated Wahala and Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry were among the key titles at Doubleday’s spring showcase on 17th November.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-18 02:13:49 UTC ]
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Don’t give up on the audio experiment

Wow. What an amazing week it has been in the world of audio publishing! First, Spotify bought Findaway, then just as we were all making sense of that news, Storytel acquired Audiobooks.com. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-16 13:36:52 UTC ]
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A Debut Novel Where Small Moments Add Up to Something Big

In “A Little Hope,” Ethan Joella explores quiet lives in small-town Connecticut. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-11-16 10:00:03 UTC ]
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Audio visual reading app xigxag opens £250k funding round

Audio visual reading app xigxag has publicly opened a £250,000 funding round on the Seeders crowdfunding platform with more than 72% already raised. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-16 04:37:03 UTC ]
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Atlantic signs 'punchy and provocative' Taxi Driver-inspired debut by Guns

Atlantic Fiction has acquired Your Driver Is Waiting, the debut novel by Priya Guns, inspired by Martin Scorsese’s classic film "Taxi Driver". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-16 03:54:36 UTC ]
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Spotify Gets Into the Audiobook Business

Looking to accelerate its expansion into the audiobook market, the Swedish audio streaming subscription service giant Spotify has agreed to acquire Ohio-based digital audiobook distributor Findaway for an undisclosed price. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
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W F Howes launches WFH Original list of audio exclusives after strategic shift

After five years at the helm of W F Howes, Miles Stevens-Hoare has led the audio pioneer through a huge growth spurt, and is now moving into creating its own audio-first content, launching the WFH Original list.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-11 21:35:34 UTC ]
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Spotify acquires audiobook platform Findaway

Spotify could soon be home to a lot more audiobooks. The streaming service has acquired audiobook platform Findaway, the companies announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition suggests Spotify is looking to build out its own library of audiobook titles.Findaway is an... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-11 21:00:04 UTC ]
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Editors and agents laud actors’ impact on audio editions as spectre of AI looms

Figures from across the trade discuss the importance of securing professional voice artists to create a slick listening experience, as automated voice development continues apace.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-11 20:41:18 UTC ]
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Hachette Children's scoops Fox's 'richly told' debut

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired The Sky Over Rebecca, a "richly told" middle-grade tale of two worlds colliding from debut author and winner of the Bath Children’s Novel Award 2019, Matthew Fox. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-10 13:38:51 UTC ]
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Quiz: Design Your Perfect Concert and Get a Rec for a Graphic Novel on Audio

Comics on audio are like recordings of live music. They’re a translation. Design your perfect concert and get a graphic novel on audio rec, like Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-10 11:31:00 UTC ]
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Sara Cox's 'big-hearted' debut novel Thrown lands at Coronet

"Between the Covers" presenter Sara Cox’s debut novel, Thrown, has gone to Coronet. It follows the lives of four women at a pottery class held at a community centre. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-10 10:45:35 UTC ]
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October Religion Bestsellers: ‘Jesus Listens’ Debuts at #1, Karen Kingsbury Tops

‘Jesus Listens,’ a follow up to Sarah Young’s bestselling devotionals ‘Jesus Calling’ and ‘Jesus Always,’ tops our religion nonfiction bestsellers list for October. In fiction, Karen Kingbury takes #1 with the latest installment to her Baxter Family series, ‘Forgiving Paris.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
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