Spotify HiFi was announced in February 2021 and while we've heard very little about it in the meantime, it now looks like the launch of a premium tier called Platinum is imminent.
A person who had canceled Spotify contacted 9to5Mac (opens in a new tab) to say that the email encouraging them to resubscribe mentioned a Spotify Platinum plan at €19.99 per month (double the standard price). This Platinum plan included a mention of Spotify HiFi.
In addition to Hi-Res Audio, the email also refers to features like Studio Sound, Headphone Tuner, Audio Insights, Library Pro, Playlist Pro, and Spotify Podcasts with limited advertising, though we don't have any information on what they entail.
not much to look forward to
The email in question also said that subscription levels would be available within the next 30 days, suggesting we'll see Spotify HiFi launch within a month, possibly with that new Platinum tag attached.
Apple Music already includes lossless audio and Spatial Audio as part of a $9.99 / £9.99 / AU$11.99 standard subscription. With that in mind, the powerhouses at Spotify may feel they need to offer more to justify a price increase.
If the information in the resubscription email is correct, we don't have to wait long to be sure, and as soon as Spotify makes an official announcement, you can of course find out more here.
Analysis: Will it be the right price?
Spotify HiFi's promised CD-quality lossless audio will bring it more in line with services like Apple Music and Tidal, but what's unclear is just how important an extra level of audio fidelity is to the average Spotify subscriber.
Asking users to double their monthly payment will be a tough sell, if that's how the price ends up, and adding a few extra features will certainly sweeten the deal. Exactly what Library Pro, Playlist Pro and other features are remains to be seen, but they should refer to some additional features of some kind.
We've seen Spotify expand its reach into podcasts and audiobooks in recent years as it looks to attract more monthly subscribers. Making existing or new subscribers pay double the going rate each month would also boost the streaming service's finances.
Spotify itself seems to be unsure of the exact release date for Spotify HiFi, and it looks like that question is about to be answered. The next question is how many people are actually going to pay for it.