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

Other news stories related to: "Spotify may finally be ready to debut a premium HiFi audio tier"


PRH Audio to release audiobook anthology for mindful living in lockdown

Penguin Random House Audio is bringing together wellbeing experts, including fitness author Chloe Madeley and performance coach Sara Milne Rowe, in a new audio anthology, The Here and Now. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-09 10:56:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #audiobook #penguin random house #prh audio


Listen to STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING by Ibram X. Kendi on Spotify

The audiobook of STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING by Ibram X. Kendi is currently available for free on Spotify. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-06-04 12:58:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #audiobook


Sinead Burke's debut children's book takes shape with Hachette Children's Group

Wren & Rook, an imprint of Hachette Children's Group will publish Sinead Burke's "empowering" non-fiction children's book Break the Mould: How To Take Your Place In The World. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-28 21:49:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #children's book #hachette #non-fiction children #wren rook #hachette children #debut children


Morris reveals cover of non-fiction debut

Heather Morris has revealed the cover of her non-fiction debut Stories of Hope to fans on Facebook Live, Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-28 04:15:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #facebook live #heather morris #non-fiction debut


In an age of cancellations and quarantine, people are turning to Twitter for connections — and premium content

Each year around this time, digital publishers and tech platforms announce their content plans for the year ahead. These annual upfront and NewFronts pitches are a bid to partner with agencies and advertisers to reassemble audiences across the ever-changing video landscape. That process will... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2020-05-28 01:23:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #digital publishers #premium content #year ahead


Windmill wins auction for Olivia Gatwood debut

PRH imprint Windmill is to publish debut psychological thriller Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-27 23:41:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hodder wins auction for Annette Christie debut

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired The Rehearsals, described as a high-concept love story that follows a couple who find themselves forced to keep re-living the day of their wedding rehearsal over and over.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-27 10:09:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #hodder #hodder stoughton


Epic! Your Spotify library now has no limits

Spotify has announced that it is lifting the content cap that previously limited the number of songs, albums and podcasts that could be added to a library. Until today is was only high-profile Spotify Rockstars who were able to store more than 10,000 items in their Spotify libraries, but now... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2020-05-26 14:59:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #libraries


RWA Retires RITA Awards, Debuts the 'Vivian' After a Winter of Controversy

The Romance Writers of America will permanently retire its annual RITA Awards, which it has presented annually since 1982, and introduce a new award, the Vivian, following a controversy related to issues of diversity at the organization over the winter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #presented annually #romance writers


Jennifer Lopez’s Daughter Debuts with Book on Prayer

Emme Muñiz, the daughter of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, shares her daily prayers in ‘Lord Help Me,’ a picture book from Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books releasing on Sept. 29. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #picture book #books releasing #crown books #jennifer lopez


Granta wins auction for Hyde's Second World War debut

Granta Books has acquired lecturer Alex Hyde’s first novel, Violets, in a four-way auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-19 06:51:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #granta books


Diversion Debuts Nonfiction Podcast Series

Diversion Publishing is launching Diversion Podcasts, a new production unit and podcast studio that will develop and release original nonfiction audio series hosted by veteran nonfiction authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Debut The Flames to Doubleday in 'major' six-figure pre-empt

Doubleday has acquired debut novel The Flames about four women "muses" who inspired artist Egon Schiele, in a "major" six-figure pre-empt.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-18 02:34:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #six-figure pre-empt


Welbeck signs three-book deal with debut author Ben Creed

Welbeck Publishing Group has signed a three-book deal with debut historical writer Ben Creed.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-17 20:25:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #debut author #three-book deal


Audio in extremis

Once upon a time, round about the start of the year, there was a settled order in the audiobook recording world.  A relatively small number of voice artists had at-home recording setups – often a booth, built in a spare room or the garden shed, which gave the experienced narrator greater... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-10 19:59:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #audiobook #vast majority #garden shed #spare room #small number


HQ wins 14-publisher auction for Claudia Winkleman debut

Claudia Winkleman's debut book Quite has been snapped up by HQ following a 14-publisher auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-06 14:55:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #claudia winkleman


Spotify takes aim at Audible with help from Harry Potter

Daniel Radcliffe, David Beckham and Dakota Fanning are among a handful of celebrities who will be reading various chapters of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone” exclusively on Spotify. The move underscores the streaming giant's efforts to invade all things digital audio. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2020-05-05 18:54:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #harry potter #streaming giant #stone exclusively #dakota fanning #david beckham #daniel radcliffe


Celebs are reading the first Harry Potter novel on Spotify

The stars are coming out to bring the first Harry Potter novel to life in a new way. There have been audiobooks of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Philosopher's Stone, and (of course) a movie based on it, but this time around, big names are reading t... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-05-05 16:59:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #harry potter


Debut author Jacqueline Rohen dies suddenly, aged 40

Author and conservationist Jacqueline Rohen, whose debut novel How to Marry Your Husband is published by Arrow this month, has died suddenly at her home in Uganda.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-04 07:16:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #died suddenly


Joe Biden finally addresses Tara Reade’s assault claim

In late March, Ryan Grim, of The Intercept, published a story on Tara Reade, a former staffer in Joe Biden’s Senate office. She was one of several women who had come forward to say that Biden, now the presumptive Democratic nominee, had, in past encounters, touched them inappropriately. Grim... Continue reading at Columbia Journalism Review

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2020-05-01 12:33:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #news publisher #due diligence #started writing #nieman reports