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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Sally Phillips to narrate Alexandra Potter audio for Macmillan

Sally Phillips has recorded the audiobook edition of Alexandra Potter’s new novel Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-26 06:15:07 UTC ]
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Hodder gets 'Who Dares Wins' host Billingham's debut novel

Hodder & Stoughton is to publish "Who Dares Wins" host Mark "Billy" Billingham’s debut novel, after triumphing in a multi-publisher auction.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-25 21:34:49 UTC ]
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Harington, Lumley and Walliams join Peter Pan audio cast

Kit Harington, Joanna Lumley and David Walliams are among the all-star cast for a new Penguin Random House audio edition of J M Barrie's classic Peter Pan. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-23 01:15:27 UTC ]
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Oneworld pre-empts Violet Kupersmith's 'kaleidoscopic' debut novel

Oneworld has pre-empted Vietnamese-American author Violet Kupersmith's debut novel.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-20 18:17:18 UTC ]
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HQ acquires debut from Primadonna Prize winner

HQ will publish the debut novel Ginger and Me from Elissa Soave, who won the inaugural Primadonna Prize in 2019. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-19 12:13:54 UTC ]
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To All the Libraries I’ll Miss When I (Finally) Move

Six years after moving to D.C. and deciding it's not for me, there’s still something holding me back from leaving: the libraries. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-10-19 10:30:00 UTC ]
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Center for Fiction Debuts Susan Kamil Award for Emerging Writers

The Center for Fiction announced the establishment of the Susan Kamil Award for Emerging Writers, a new award to honor the memory and influence of the late Kamil, who was former executive v-p and publisher of the Random House imprint. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-10-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Mantle dives in for Lizzie Pook debut

Mantle has won a multi-publisher auction for two books from journalist Lizzie Pook amid a clamour for rights across the world. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-18 20:04:04 UTC ]
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Frankfurt finale sees 200,000 access the virtual fair's professional content

Frankfurt Book Fair director Jürgen Boos has said he envisions a hybrid digital/physical model at the 2021 edition of the world's biggest trade fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-18 15:36:03 UTC ]
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Puffin wins six-figure auction to publish Carney's debut MG series

Puffin has acquired debut middle-grade series, The Accidental Diary of B.U.G, from author-illustrator talent Jen Carney in a "heated" six-figure auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-15 21:47:37 UTC ]
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Heyday Television triumphs in nine-way auction for Audrain's debut

Michael Joseph’s major 2021 debut The Push by Ashley Audrain has been optioned by Heyday Television.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-15 21:02:26 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury wins auction for Buoro's 'astonishing' debut

Bloomsbury has secured 27-year-old novelist and mathematician Stephen Buoro's debut novel, The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-15 13:01:22 UTC ]
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Celaya on the boom in audio content in Spanish-speaking markets

Javier Celaya is the founder and c.e.o. of Dosdoce.com, a member of the executive board of the Digital Economy Association of Spain, as well as head of institutional relations at the Spanish Digital Publishing Association (Aselid). He talks to Tom Tivnan. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-14 01:37:55 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury lands Luke Cassidy's 'gritty' debut novel

Bloomsbury is to publish Iron Annie by debut author Luke Cassidy, secured in a two-book deal.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-13 22:22:54 UTC ]
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Arrow signs Ainsworth's 'moving' adult debut

Cornerstone imprint Arrow has acquired the debut adult novel from Carnegie-nominated children's author Eve Ainsworth.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-12 22:48:23 UTC ]
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S&S snaps up Beach's debut picture books

Simon & Schuster Children's is to publish author and illustrator Beach's first picture book, secured in a three-title deal.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-11 20:46:58 UTC ]
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Wildfire lands Annie Mac's debut novel

Wildfire will publish Mother Mother, the debut novel from DJ and broadcaster Annie Macmanus, popularly known as Annie Mac.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-11 19:57:39 UTC ]
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S&S pre-empts Eva Verde's 'urgent' debut novel

Simon & Schuster is to publish Eve Verde's debut novel, Lives Like Mine, next summer.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-09 10:30:46 UTC ]
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Debut tale of a 'hidden' Cornwall to Two Roads

Two Roads has acquired debut novel The Lip by Charlie Carroll, depicting "a hidden Cornwall" while exploring themes of childhood, isolation and mental health with a heroine at its heart. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-08 05:42:21 UTC ]
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Harvill Secker pre-empts Kurian debut

Harvill Secker has pre-empted a “clever, sharp and hugely entertaining” debut psychological thriller from Vera Kurian in a six-figure deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-06 23:24:54 UTC ]
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