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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Sceptre acquires tragicomic debut Tiepolo Blue at auction

Sceptre has acquired Tiepolo Blue, a satire set in the art world of 1990s London, at auction. The book, charting the fall from grace of an esteemed Cambridge professor, is the debut of James Cahill, a critic and academic at King’s College London. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-10 03:09:25 UTC ]
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HQ lands Kuzniar's adult debut reimagining The Nutcracker

HQ has landed the debut adult novel from M A Kuzniar, Midnight in Everwood, as part of a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-09 11:19:34 UTC ]
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Cape wins Crooks' 'phenomenal' debut novel in 10-way auction

Jonathan Cape has won a 10-publisher auction for Fire Rush, the “phenomenal” debut novel by Jacqueline Crooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-09 10:11:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #debut novel #jonathan cape #jacqueline crooks


Fourth Estate wins four-way auction for Brown Girls debut

Fourth Estate has triumphed in a four-way publisher auction for Daphne Palasi Andreades’ “evocative and original” debut novel Brown Girls in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-08 17:18:36 UTC ]
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William Collins pre-empts 'radical' Dalrymple debut on Indian independence

William Collins has snapped up a “radical” new assessment of Indian independence from debut author Sam Dalrymple in a pre-emptive co-publication deal with HarperCollins India. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-06 19:12:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #debut author #harpercollins #harpercollins india #william collins


Audio Book Recommendation: Make Me Rain by Nikki Giovanni, Read by the Author

Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile’s editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. We keep our daily episodes short and sweet, with audiobook clips to give you a sample of our featured listens. Nikki Giovanni’s slightly raspy, slightly sibilant voice draws listeners into Make Me Rain,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-27 11:56:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #audiobook #audio book #literary hub #featured listens #audiobook clips #audiobook listening #editors recommend #nikki giovanni


PRH and HC win at Audio Production Awards

Penguin Random House and HarperCollins have both scooped prizes at this year's Audio Production Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-27 08:52:59 UTC ]
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Raven acquires two in 'major' debut deal

Alison Hennessey, publishing director of Bloomsbury Publishing's Raven Books, has sealed a two-book deal after a "passionately fought" auction for The Leviathan and The Puzzle Wood by debut author Helen-Rose (Rosie) Andrews. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-26 12:42:55 UTC ]
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Inclusive audio

The ability to enter new worlds through literature and the joy of a good book has proven to be a source of solace and comfort nationwide throughout the pandemic. We've seen the evidence of this through booming book sales in the first lockdown, with data from the BBC showing a rise in fiction... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-25 22:30:55 UTC ]
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Viking pre-empts debut from former bookseller Ben Hinshaw

The debut novel from former Daunt Books bookseller Ben Hinshaw will be published by Viking in spring 2022.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-25 14:18:40 UTC ]
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Barnes, Clarke and host of debuts make Costa shortlists

Susanna Clarke, Julian Barnes and Meg Rossoff are joined by 10 debut authors in the shortlists for this year's Costa Book Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-24 05:20:33 UTC ]
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Red Wheel/Weiser, Dreamscape Media Partner Up on Red Wheel Audio

Red Wheel/Weiser, a publisher of titles on mind-body-spirit and the occult, is joining with Dreamscape Media, an audio book production house and distributor, to launch Red Wheel Audio, a multi-year audiobook program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-24 05:00:00 UTC ]
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'Ready Player Two' author is going on a virtual book tour in 'Roblox'

Real book tours aren’t practical during a pandemic, but the virtual kind might suit at least one author very nicely. Ernest Cline is showcasing his new novel Ready Player Two in a Roblox event, and it will appropriately include a treasure hunt. While... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-11-23 18:00:53 UTC ]
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Hodder Studio acquires 'utterly compelling' Marshall debut

Hodder Studio has acquired two titles from Heather Marshall at auction, including her debut Looking for Jane.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-23 05:52:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #hodder #hodder studio #utterly compelling


Obama’s Memoir Is a Chance to Finally See Our Sanest President

Critical responses to Barack Obama’s memoir suggest less what’s in the book than what we’ve always wanted from him. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2020-11-20 20:45:30 UTC ]
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Now Is the Time to Finally Close the Digital Divide

The incoming president of the Association of Rural & Small Libraries argues that Covid-19 has shown us the urgent need for a national broadband strategy and a more equitable, sustainable digital library market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder Studio signs audio guide to baking from Ruby Tandoh

Hodder Studio has signed the first audio recipe book by Ruby Tandoh, Breaking Eggs: An Audio Guide to Baking. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-20 02:29:30 UTC ]
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Cape wins debut by psychiatrist and comedian Benji Waterhouse

Jonathan Cape has triumphed in a nine-publisher auction for a “fly-on-the-padded-wall” debut from junior psychiatrist and comedy writer Benji Waterhouse. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-19 11:03:07 UTC ]
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Gollancz acquires Buehlman's fantasy debut

Gollancz, the SFF imprint of the Orion Publishing Group, will publish a "thrilling" fantasy debut by horror writer and scriptwriter Christopher Buehlman. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-19 06:47:05 UTC ]
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Nielsen details lockdown impact on audio consumption at FutureBook

Lockdown was a key factor driving new consumers to try audiobooks in 2020 and helped increase listening among longer term listeners, according to hot-off-the-press data from Nielsen. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-18 01:26:41 UTC ]
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