Petition for Supremium/HiFi audio tier!

[user-removed]

Hey Spotify! I've been very closely following the rumors around Spotify HiFi/Supremium for a few months now, and it seems like the plans to launch Supremium have been cancelled due to "low demand" from a survey that was supposedly done recently. But I would like to make this petition for HiFi audio (more specifically, up to 24bit 192khz) so hopefully a Spotify Mod/Employee will see this and bring it up to the executives so they can release Supremium/HiFi (I heard it was already done being coded) to us users with DACs & high end wired headphones/speakers for us to enjoy! I also heard a reason the project was cancelled might've been because companies like amazon & apple have released HiFi at no additional cost, whereas Spotify would like to charge more for HiFi, and since it doesn't cost more on apple music or Amazon music, it was scrapped. To that I would like to say, charge me more! I don't care if its $19.99, $24.99, whatever, just give us HiFi audio! I will GLADLY pay more than I have to compared to the competitors for HiFi, as I understand that Spotify is solely a music/audiobooks/podcast company therefore it is not a good business decision to release HiFi at no additional cost because they can't make up the lost money through sales of hardware. But that is no reason to scratch Supremium/HiFi, as there are a lot of loyal customers like me who would still pay more for HiFi.

So to conclude, IF YOU WANT HiFi, please voice your opinion here! Hopefully we can convince Spotify to release HiFi! Best of luck fellow Spotify enthusiasts! Have a lovely day!

[Krixle]

I'd gladly pay more for a plan. Even if it only included 16 bit CD quality. I consider it to be a shame having to unsubscribe from Spotify, but if,  and/or when it produces a higher fidelity plan, I will be re-joining. 

[OliverRC]

I'd pay extra for a lossless audio tier

[mrhank3y]

Definitely not. I would NOT pay more for 24/192 resolution, which is commonly referred to as Hi-Res. It’s not Hi-Fi per se.

Hi-Fi is a general term for anything lossless or above.

I would happily pay more for Lossless audio alone, which is 16/44 but I have no interest in Hi-Res at 24/192. Nor do the vast majority.

If Spotify think there isn’t enough demand for Hi-Fi lossless audio 16/44, imagine how low the demand is for Hi-Res audio 24/192, where most people can’t tell the difference from lossless audio (including professionals and most consumers with high end equipment).

lossless at 16/44 (hi-fi) is a different story, I love lossless audio and hate Spotify lossy audio but I wouldn’t pay Spotify for that either because others cater for it and do a much better job of it that Spotify ever will. 

[rollerotr]

By all means, Spotify, follow through with Supremium. Make it a 2 tier subscription plan like Tidal has done, $9.95 & 19.95 for hi res. I subscribe to the hi res plan....but dislike the UI. I will gladly drop Tidal and Amazon Unlimited for Supremium at $20-25 monthly!

[Blueshound24]

I would second the vote for lossless audio. However I would not pay more than $10 a month for it which is about what I'm paying for lossless elsewhere.

[petsy48]

I waited for years. I'm very happy over at Qobuz but would take a free trial if Spotify were to go lossless!

[Moonclamp]

I've just jumped ship from Amazon Music - the only reason being Spotify's superior compatibility with Android Auto compared with Amazon's lousy app. I'm on a three-month trial at the moment, so we shall see whether I stay or not.

But, the audio quality is noticeably poorer than Amazon's HD. 

I would pay more - slightly more - but there would need to be more features. Not Audiobooks, I have an Audible account for those, but what I would really like is the ability to upload my rarer own music. For example, independent CDs by local unsigned artists or other albums that are not available in the cloud; stuff I bought years ago and ripped myself.

I know I can access local files, but that's not the point; I want to be able to play music using Alexa, including Alexa multi-room music.

Ultimately, the price needs to compete with Amazon and Apple.

[rollerotr]

It is understandable that our votes for lossless and hi res fall into 2 camps...those willing to pay much more like Qobuz and Tidal, and those willing to match Amazon and Apple. Music streaming represents a tiny part of Apple's and Amazon's business model. They could effectively give away their streaming services in an effort to drive Qobuz and Tidal and Spotify into bankruptcy, being that streaming is their only service. Like the Walmart model of the past, cutting prices enough to drive Mom and Pops out of business.

Apple and Amazon are already doing that to some degree as Tidal Hi Fi is $20/month while Qobuz is $15. Apple and Amazon are already #2 & 3 in subscriptions! Only Spotify remains at the top while continuing to deny us lossless. 

Because Spotify continues to lose money, year over year, I don't think they will ever offer lossless unless they are purchased by a major entitiy with a diversified portfolio. Perhaps that is their goal,

[rvk1]

I'm waiting.................

[Visionary1]

You'all looking at this the wrong way...we should be paying less for the subpar fidelity we are now receiving.  The subscription price are currently paying should be at least CD-quality service.  This cost level is in line with competitors.  Class action suit anyone?   

[Visionary1]

My thought, we will get hi res service post acquisition....must likely by cash-rich Apple.  Be careful what you wish for as Apple will the destroy Spotify's good user interface.   They done that post purchase of Primephonic.

[Visionary1]

Have been sampling Amazon's service and I agree with you.  Much better experience with sound quality with Amazon.  I actually liking the Atmos recordings.  I tend to listen more now.  Spotify needs a much better interface for audio books (and podcasts for that matter) - Audible is great.  You can't simply use same design/layout applied used in music for these other services.   

[Blueshound24]

+1 this! 

"You'all looking at this the wrong way...we should be paying less for the subpar fidelity we are now receiving.  The subscription price are currently paying should be at least CD-quality service.  This cost level is in line with competitors.  Class action suit anyone?"

[milpai]

It is wishful thinking - that Spotify will offer HiFi at no additional cost. Amazon and Apple's primary business is NOT music. So they make profit elsewhere and can afford to lose revenue in the streaming business.

To those who do not want to pay - sure, no one is asking you to upgrade to HiFi. Stay at the current tier and enjoy music. But many of us are willing to pay for higher fidelity.

To those who have already move elsewhere - hope you are enjoying the service. But something tells me you are still wishing for Spotify HiFi...else you would not be responding here 😉

What I am not able to understand:

People who wanted HiFi have already moved to Tidal/Qobuz/AM/Amazon, etc. So Spotify lost that revenue. But I see on a lot of forums that there are folks willing to pay more because they like the Spotify experience. So why not keep the existing Premium plan and introduce a HiFi plan that folks like me are willing to pay more. If anything, that would make more money for Spotify...right? The things that might be an issue are the following:

1. Licensing

2. Higher cost to store (cloud storage) and stream HiFi files that might not be worth the investments for the returns they are expecting

I am thinking that in this day/age it is the first issue that is keeping them from introducing that, and not the second point.

Anyone notice that Tidal has Connect for appliances but not the desktop computer, which Spotify has? Maybe something about the hi-rez files getting downloaded to local machines that is driving the licensing issues? Hence Tidal has hi-rez but without Desktop Connect, while Spotify has Desktop Connect without hi-rez? Just a guess.

[q8ymhd]

It’s taken forever to launch the HiFi service.  I can cancel my supsuprecion on Tidal and stay only on Spotify when added a hifi plan 

[rollerotr]

I have accepted that Spotify will not offer a lossless plan. For now, I'm using it for audiobooks and boombox music. As soon s I find a good audiobook replacemenI service, I will drop Spotify. I currently use Tidal for lossless. 

[KfeerBlau]

Ive already tried on tidal lossless streaming for a 3 months trial that came with my 360audio with the wh1000xm4 and got amazed with the quality difference and immersion even over bluetooth(LDAC). Only reason im still on spotify is my car's headunit doesnt support more than better codecs than aac anyways and i listen to music mosly while driving, but its gonna change too...

[OlafN]

Since a few days Tidal is a 1 tier program. They included hi-res in their normal tier without a higher price.

Spotify needs to keep up.

[gszatmari84]

I would pay gladly for hifi tier