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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Michael Joseph snaps up 'phenomenal' debut

PRH's Michael Joseph has bought debut novel A Kindness by Regan Rose, recently pre-empted within 24 hours of submission by Penguin in the US. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-21 06:19:15 UTC ]
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W&N lands 'virtuoso' debut novel from Riviere at auction

W&N has landed the "virtuoso" debut novel from poet Sam Riviere in a multi-publisher auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-18 05:10:37 UTC ]
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Walker signs comedy horror MG debut by Jordan Kopy

Walker Books has signed comedy horror middle grade series Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters by debut author Jordan Kopy. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-17 21:39:40 UTC ]
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'Complex' debut to Daunt Books Publishing

Daunt Books Publishing has snapped up a debut from Brandon Taylor which promises “complex and vulnerable” characters. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-17 17:23:07 UTC ]
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Quercus and Flatiron buy Hausmann's debut bestseller

Quercus and Flatiron have bought Romy Hausmann’s debut thriller Dear Child, which has shifted over 175,000 copies in Germany and been sold in 12 territories. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-17 03:20:00 UTC ]
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Audio dominates FutureBook shortlists

Audio dominates the shortlists for this year’s prestigious FutureBook Awards, with seven podcasts, and seven audiobooks shortlisted along with the campaign for the launch of the Penguin Classics audiobook series, and start-ups NoisyBook and DeepZen. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-16 15:52:38 UTC ]
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Lime Pictures to bring Duffy's YA debut to television screens

Lime Pictures has acquired television rights for Malcolm Duffy's young adult debut novel, Me Mam. Me Dad. Me., about a young boy trying to make sense of his mother's abusive relationship. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-16 00:42:15 UTC ]
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HarperCollins triumphs in 9-way auction for slushpile debut Girl A

HarperCollins has triumphed in a nine-way auction to publish Girl A by slushpile debut author Abigail Dean, with international rights sold in seven territories as well as an ongoing auction in Brazil and offers in Portugal and Israel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 18:13:43 UTC ]
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Debuts compete for 2019 JCB Prize for Literature

Two debut novelists, Roshan Ali and Madhuri Vijay, are in the running for India's richest literary award, the 2019 JCB Prize for Literature, alongside three other writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 17:09:45 UTC ]
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Hutchinson snaps up Tucker's 'exceptional debut novel' in six-figure deal

Hutchinson has signed a six-figure deal with author Nancy Tucker for her debut novel, The First Day of Spring, following an auction, with rights sold in the US, Brazil and France. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 10:14:07 UTC ]
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Raven signs Katherine Faulkner debut after four-way auction

Raven Books has snapped up Greenwich Park by debut author Katherine Faulkner following a "passionately fought auction" with four publishers head-to-head in the final round. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 07:49:05 UTC ]
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OUP signs Naomi and James Jones' debut picture book in five-figure deal

Oxford University Press has signed husband-and-wife team Naomi and James Jones' debut picture book in a five-figure deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-14 08:36:11 UTC ]
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Europa lands Ben Hopkins debut

Europa Editions will publish Cathedral by screenwriter and debut author Ben Hopkins next year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-11 10:30:04 UTC ]
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Zephyr pre-empts debut from Aardman's Hawkins

Head of Zeus imprint Zephyr has pre-empted the debut novel from Aardman Animations creative director Finbar Hawkins in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-11 03:38:34 UTC ]
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Vogue columnist Nell Frizzell’s debut goes to Transworld in 13-way auction

Transworld has snapped up the first book from Vogue columnist Nell Frizzell, The Panic Years: Dates, Doubts and the Mother of all Decisions, following a 13-way auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-10 15:25:44 UTC ]
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W&N scoops 'glowing hot' Campbell debut in two-book deal

Weidenfeld & Nicolson has snapped up a “glowing-hot” debut from Niamh Campbell in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-10 07:46:00 UTC ]
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Transworld scoops 'heartwarming' debut from Paris in two-book deal

Transworld has scooped the debut novel from performer, writer and Faber Academy alumna Helen Paris in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-09 13:58:41 UTC ]
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