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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Blakemore wins £10k Desmond Elliott Prize for 'stunning' debut

A K Blakemore has won the £10,000 Desmond Elliott Prize for her "stunning" historical fiction novel The Manningtree Witches (Granta Books).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-01 17:06:17 UTC ]
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The shortlist for this year’s Arthur C. Clarke Award is all debuts.

The Arthur C. Clarke Award, which recognizes the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year, has released their 2021 shortlist—and for the first time in the award’s 35-year history, the shortlist is entirely made up of debut novels. “As we announce... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-06-30 16:03:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #science fiction #debut novels #35-year history #united kingdom #clarke award


McNicoll wins Waterstones Children's Book Prize with debut A Kind of Spark

Elle McNicoll has been named overall winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2021 for her debut novel A Kind of Spark (Knights Of).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-30 15:03:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #children's book #children’s book #waterstones children #elle mcnicoll #book prize


Six debuts shortlisted for Arthur C Clarke Award

Six debut novels make up the Arthur C Clarke Award for science fiction shortlist for the first time in the award's 35-year history.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-30 02:00:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #35-year history #debuts shortlisted #clarke award


Shire's debut collection signed by Chatto and flipped eye

The debut collection of Warsan Shire, a former Young Poet Laureate of London who has collaborated with Beyoncé, will be published by Chatto & Windus in collaboration with flipped eye. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-29 17:33:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #debut collection #flipped eye #chatto windus #warsan shire


Blackstone Thrives with Physical Audio

The Ashland, Ore.–based independent audiobook publisher is seeing double-digit growth for CDs and MP3-CDs thanks to new partnerships, even as other publishers abandon the formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #audiobook #double-digit growth #physical audio


Avon to publish Goodwin's 'heart-stopping' debut in two-book deal

Avon Books has acquired Sarah Goodwin's debut Stranded, plus one more untitled novel.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-25 00:42:01 UTC ]
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Ford's debut scooped by Aquarius Films for TV series

Aquarius Films is producing "Fight Like A Girl", a comedy drama TV series based on the book of the same name by Australian feminist writer Clementine Ford. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-20 20:08:56 UTC ]
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Bologna’s Finale: 75,000 Visitors and 300 Hours of ‘Initiatives’

The second digital evocation of the world's largest children's book trade show closes with big numbers and lots of programming on video. The post Bologna’s Finale: 75,000 Visitors and 300 Hours of ‘Initiatives’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-06-17 21:02:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #children's book #big numbers #largest children #digital evocation #post bologna


Oprah’s latest Book Club pick, ‘The Sweetness of Water,’ is a miraculous debut

Nathan Harris sets his novel in Georgia during the murky twilight of the Civil War. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-06-15 07:08:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #civil war


Debut power

Publishing a debut novel is never easy. 100,000 long-form works of English-language fiction are published every year and even in normal circumstances it’s a struggle to for a first-time novelist to stand out from the pack. But the last 15 or so months have been particularly trying. Full lockdown... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-12 22:02:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #debut novel #normal circumstances #english-language fiction


Hamish Hamilton wins three-publisher auction for 'irresistible' Hedman debut

Hamish Hamilton has won a three-publisher auction for The Trio by Johanna Hedman, a “strikingly elegant” literary debut which has been snapped up in a flurry of deals by editors across Europe. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-08 10:06:48 UTC ]
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PRH signs audio rights to Barker catalogue

Penguin Random House has acquired the audio rights for Pat Barker's catalogue, commissioning new readings by a star cast including include Simon Russell Beale (pictured).   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-08 02:15:03 UTC ]
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Where Is Our Spotify for Books?

Libraries traditionally played a Spotify-esque role for physical books, but legal barriers have made it largely impossible to do with e-books. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2021-06-07 09:40:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #libraries #physical books


Audio Publishers Association Cites 12-Percent 2020 US Audiobook Revenue Growth

In 2020, the Audio Publishers Association sales report finds more than 71,000 audiobooks were published in the US, up 39 percent over 2019. The post Audio Publishers Association Cites 12-Percent 2020 US Audiobook Revenue Growth appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-06-01 13:14:36 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Ireland pre-empts debut novel by Kirwan

HarperCollins Ireland has pre-empted a debut novel by award-winning actor and playwright Emmet Kirwan, to be published in 2023.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-28 22:53:36 UTC ]
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'Three Women' author Lisa Taddeo's debut novel is fearless. So what is she afraid of?

Lisa Taddeo, whose book "Three Women" broke the mold of immersive journalism, talks about her first novel, "Animal," and the struggle to write and live. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-05-27 13:00:06 UTC ]
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Harvill Secker signs Yagi's 'hilarious and thought-provoking' debut

Harvill Secker senior editor Ellie Steel has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights at auction for Diary of a Void by debut Japanese author Emi Yagi. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-24 04:35:05 UTC ]
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Embla snares Smith's 'gripping' thriller debut

A “heart-racing” thriller, How Far Will You Go, by debut author Dandy Smith has been signed by Embla Books.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-24 03:03:50 UTC ]
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Transworld snaps up debut by Drag Race winner Lawrence Chaney

Transworld has snapped up world rights for "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner Lawrence Chaney’s memoir, which will "delight and inspire readers." Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-20 10:23:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #world rights #inspire readers #drag race #transworld snaps