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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Baggaley acquires Nagamatsu debut for Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury editor-in-chief Paul Baggaley has acquired an "extraordinarily prescient" debut novel by Sequoia Nagamatsu, How High We Go in the Dark. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-06 10:17:28 UTC ]
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Children’s Institute 2020: Indies Introduce Debut Authors

Ten authors of books chosen by booksellers as their favorite summer/fall middle grade and YA debuts read from their works in a lunchtime panel. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-07-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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PA compiles audio reading list for parliamentarians

The Publishers Association has compiled a summer audio reading list for parliamentarians as it urges them to remove VAT on audiobooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-02 16:39:44 UTC ]
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The Most Anticipated Debuts of the Second Half of 2020

There’s no doubt COVID-19 has forever changed the world as we know it. A small slice of life that had to shift trajectory is the publishing industry. Debut authors are especially struggling as the books they have worked on for countless years are released into a world without in-person book... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2020-06-30 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Ulverscroft acquires audio rights to Captain Tom's autobiography

Ulverscroft has acquired the large print, audio and download rights to Captain Tom Moore’s autobiography, Tomorrow Will Be a Good Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-29 23:00:42 UTC ]
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Film4 options Lynda Clark's debut sci-fi

Film4 has acquired TV and film rights to Lynda Clark's sci-fi novel, Beyond Kidding, published by Fairlight Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-29 14:42:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #fairlight books #lynda clark #film rights #debut sci-fi

Orion snaps up Brown's 'uplifting' romantic debut

Victoria Oundjian, commissioning editor at Orion Fiction, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to a romantic debut, Uncoupling by Lorraine Brown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-29 13:28:09 UTC ]
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3BlackDot Announces 2 New Shows at NewFronts Debut

Gaming took center stage at the 2020 Digital Content NewFronts today. 3BlackDot, an entertainment studio that builds content around influencers in the gaming space, gave its first NewFronts presentation, boasting to advertisers about its far reach and various functions. The entertainment studio... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2020-06-26 18:17:46 UTC ]
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HarperCollins wins six-way auction for debut from S&S's Pronovost

HarperCollins has triumphed in a heated six-publisher auction for the debut novel by Nita Prose, the pen name for vice president and editorial director at Simon & Schuster in Canada, Nita Pronovost. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-25 11:27:10 UTC ]
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NPR, APM and Vibenomics Make a Play for Audio at NewFronts

At the 2020 Digital Content NewFronts today, three companies presented about the future of audio--a visual sales pitch for an aural medium. National Public Radio and American Public Media's Marketplace each put their radio and podcast hosts front-and-center, selling reliable news and audience... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2020-06-24 21:17:51 UTC ]
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Hachette Children's acquires teacher's debut Ghostcloud

Hachette Children's Group will publish Ghostcloud, a middle-grade adventure by debut author Michael Mann. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-24 18:20:27 UTC ]
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Review: A wicked debut novel about a levitation cult occasionally lifts off

Emily Temple's "The Lightness," about a seeker who loses more than she finds, is a beguiling novel after Donna Tartt's heart, if not her plotting. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-06-24 13:45:57 UTC ]
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“The greatest sci-fi work of all time,” Foundation, finally has a YouTube trailer.

Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy has long been one of the great unadaptable science fiction works (read more on that here, along with a catalogue of Asimov’s awful serial harassment of women), but after 50 years, it has finally made it to screens. Starring noted tall man, Lee Pace (along with... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-06-23 14:28:10 UTC ]
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Toon up for both Bloody Scotland Debut award and McIlvanney Prize

This year's Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Book of the year shortlist and McIlvanney Prize longlist have been revealed, with author Francine Toon up for both awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-22 13:56:12 UTC ]
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MJ wins auction for Van Rensburg's 'game-changing' debut

Michael Joseph has acquired The Downfall and a second novel, Eden Lost, by debut author Laure Van Rensburg in a six-figure deal after a six-way auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-21 20:13:47 UTC ]
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Bluebird snaps up Kaur's 'agenda-setting' debut

Bluebird has snapped up Brown Girl Like Me, an “agenda-setting” debut by award-winning spoken word artist and teacher Jaspreet Kaur. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-15 01:15:39 UTC ]
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Lockdown diaries: the debut author

It was Sunday 22nd March when I emailed Carrie, my literary agent, telling her I’d had an idea in the bath and although it felt far-fetched, I wanted to explore it and could she please call me on Monday for a quick chat. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-12 11:19:54 UTC ]
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Fall 2020 Announcements: Audio

The double-digit sales increases of digital audio reported by many publishers over the past several years continue, with no signs of slowing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Audiobook of Theatre for Dreamers debuts new music by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd

Husband and wife duo Polly Samson and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd have teamed up to work on the audiobook of Samson's novel A Theatre for Dreamers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-11 22:58:40 UTC ]
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