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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4 New Debut Novels by Women That We Loved

This diverse slate of standout debut novels by women spans genre, from historical saga to contemporary comic novel to postapocalyptic fantasy, as well as the globe, from California to a far-flung Nordic isle. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Internet Archive Files Final Appeal Brief in Book Scanning Case

The Internet Archive has filed its final reply brief in Hachette v. Internet Archive, the closely watched copyright case involving the scanning and digital lending of library books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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3 Splashy New Debut Novels

This spring has come with its fair share of excellent debut novels. Here are three more, for your reading pleasure. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Spotify Audiobooks Draw Younger Listeners, Get Bump from TV Adaptations

According to data released by Spotify, users aged 18-34 make up 57% of the platform's audiobook listeners, while television adaptations such as 'Shōgun' and 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' have prompted a surge in demand for specific titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Finally, the Ad Industry Can Deliver on Purpose-Driven Media Investment

Several brands have made public commitments to shift their budgets to purpose-driven advertising and allocate spend to companies owned by and reaching underrepresented populations or focusing on industry causes. However, given the complexity of the digital media... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2024-04-17 20:25:31 UTC ]
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Some Spotify plans are reportedly getting more expensive soon

Fish swim, birds fly and streaming services increase their prices. That’s (mostly) the way of things. After maintaining the same pricing for Premium for a long time, Spotify looks set to increase it twice within a year in some countries. According to Bloomberg, Spotify Premium will be around $1... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-04-03 14:30:13 UTC ]
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Spotify's subscriber audiobook credit is coming to Canada and other countries next week

Spotify Premium users in Canada, Ireland and New Zealand will have access to 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening at no extra cost starting on April 9. Subscribers in the US, UK and Australia have had access to this perk for several months. The Premium audiobook catalog now includes more than... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-04-02 18:24:44 UTC ]
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OpenAI says it can clone a voice from just 15 seconds of audio

OpenAI just announced that it recently conducted a small-scale preview of a new tool called Voice Engine. This is a voice cloning technology that can mimic any speaker by analyzing a 15-second audio sample. The company says it generates “natural-sounding speech” with “emotive and realistic... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-03-29 19:03:56 UTC ]
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Library Community Readies for PLA 2024

With a strong program and solid registration numbers, excitement is running high for the 2024 Public Library Association Conference, set for April 3–5 in Columbus, Ohio. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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LaGuardia's $8 billion renovation is finally getting its flowers

LaGuardia Airport just won a customer satisfaction award. Yes, really.The much-maligned Queens airport that President Joe Biden notoriously compared to “some Third World country" in 2014 earned the 2023 Airport Service Quality Award (ASQ) for hubs serving 25 to 40 million passengers per year.The... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2024-03-14 19:49:00 UTC ]
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‘France Is Like Sleeping Beauty’: Bookwire’s ‘All About Audio’

Amid growing opportunities for audio development, Bookwire’s look at the French market included challenges, as well. (Sponsored) By Eric Dupuy | @duperico ‘A Dynamism for Audio’ hen the Frankfurt-based Bookwire presented its second digital program on the audiobook market in France on Thursday... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-11 09:35:37 UTC ]
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At London Book Fair: Mapping 192 Audio Sales Channels

Subscription leads business models—some of them 'hybrid subscription— in sales channels that Dosdoce will report on at London Book Fair. The post At London Book Fair: Mapping 192 Audio Sales Channels appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-11 09:01:22 UTC ]
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Spotify Already Messing Around With Audiobook Pricing

Spotify's... interesting pricing plans, it "It" books of March, and more of the day's bookish news: Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-03-01 21:43:16 UTC ]
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Spotify rolls out an audiobook-only subscription

Spotify has added another subscription option. This time around, it's offering a plan that has little to do with music. The Audiobooks Access Tier (which is US-only for now) offers 15 hours of audiobook listening each month for $10. You'll have access to Spotify's library of more than 200,000... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-03-01 18:08:29 UTC ]
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Reviving Literary Legacies: When Women’s Stories Finally Get Told

Rebecca Rego Barry, author of 'The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells,' on researching the prolific mystery author—whose name, which once regularly graced the pages of the 'New York Times' and this very magazine, has been all but forgotten. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Spotify's Findaway Voices Terms of Use Still Raise Concerns

Updated terms of service for Spotifiy's indie author audiobook distribution platform Findaway Voices appeared to give Spotify broad powers to reuse content. An outcry forced a revision of terms, but clarification is still needed, say authors and affiliates. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-28 05:00:00 UTC ]
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UK’s Society of Authors: More Clarity in Spotify’s Terms

Changes in Spotify's terms of use for its Findaway Voices audiobook product trigger concerns from the Society of Authors in London. The post UK’s Society of Authors: More Clarity in Spotify’s Terms appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-02-22 15:16:42 UTC ]
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Bologna Book Plus Releases New Audio Forum Program

The Bologna Book Plus, a generalist-publishing program, offers its first 'Audio Forum' on April 10 during Bologna Children's Book Fair. The post Bologna Book Plus Releases New Audio Forum Program appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-02-13 15:48:09 UTC ]
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It's funny and cringey, but Andrew Ewell's debut novel doesn't live up to its potential

Andrew Ewell's debut novel 'Set for Life' is well-written but doesn't fulfill its potential. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-02-09 16:00:10 UTC ]
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Profits Soar at HarperCollins as Audio Sales Boom

A 29% increase in sales of digital audio, coupled with lower costs, resulted in a 67% increase in profits at the publisher in the quarter ended December 31, 2023, over the comparable period a year ago. Total sales were up 4%. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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