Spotify HiFi was announced four years ago, and it’s almost here — maybe

I’m hard-pressed to find another example of a tech company announcing something and then waiting over four years to actually ship it, but that’s exactly the situation we’ve reached with Spotify and its long-delayed HiFi feature. The latest reports indicate it’s finally coming in a matter of months as part of a Music Pro package that Spotify hopes will ensure the service’s continued profitability. But this has become quite the saga. First introduced on February 22nd 2021, Spotify HiFi was to roll out later that year — or such was the original plan, anyway. In that story, I wrote “your turn, Apple Music,” which is funny in retrospect since Apple Music managed to successfully deliver lossless and high-resolution audio just a few months later (and at no added cost for subscribers). Amazon stopped charging extra for lossless music at around the same time. [Image: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has mentioned a forthcoming “deluxe” tier of Spotify numerous times. https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/gettyimages-2184632198.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] By all accounts, this aggressive approach from both companies totally derailed Spotify HiFi, which was always going to demand an upcharge over the service’s regular Premium subscription. The company went radio silent on the feature, and Spotify spokespeople never provided any meaningful updates on its status. There were occasional glimpses of HiFi, mostly from those willing to dig through the app’s code. I’ve been told that employees have long had access to lossless streaming. Spotify HiFi, as it was originally envisioned, was thoroughly tested and has been ready to go for ages — but a green light for launch has never materialized. Why? Some believe it’s due to a music rights quagmire that Spotify has sought to resolve with its latest deals. This is partially true, according to a recent Bloomberg report, which noted that the service “doesn’t have rights from all of the major music companies” for what it’s trying to do. But I think Spotify also came to realize that higher-bitrate music streams alone wouldn’t be enough to prop up an “ultimate” subscription tier. A lot of people simply can’t hear the difference between lossy audio (like Spotify offers today) and CD-quality streams — or they lack the kind of headphone/speaker hardware that would highlight such an upgrade. Do you know more about Spotify Music Pro? It’s been a long road getting here, but it sure feels like 2025 is the year we’ll finally be getting Spotify HiFi — or some incarnation of it. If you’re familiar with what Spotify has planned for the next few months and beyond, I can be reached securely and confidentially via Signal at (845) 445-8455 or at the username @chriswelch.01. So the company has been reworking the plan into a broader “Music Pro” add-on that extends far beyond audio quality. It’s still unclear exactly what this will end up looking like: past reports have mentioned everything from early-access concert ticketing to DJ remixing tools. It’s also been rumored that Music Pro could offer an “optimization” trick for specific models of earbuds, headphones, and speakers. Spotify’s user surveys have hinted at other possibilities including karaoke — another thing Apple Music is already doing — and the option to add an additional user account to any Music Pro subscription. Spotify itself might be undecided on just what Music Pro should entail: Bloomberg reported that the company “plans to roll out the plan in phases, adding tools and features over time” and is still planning to test new capabilities throughout 2025. But the surest sign that Music Pro is actually happening is that Spotify is talking about the project again. CEO Daniel Ek has mentioned an upcoming deluxe tier on multiple occasions. Last year, he said it would offer “all of the benefits that the normal Spotify version has, but a lot more control, a lot higher quality across the board, and some other things that I’m not ready to talk about just yet.” And only a few weeks ago, Ek claimed Spotify plans to “double down on music in 2025.” Whenever it does eventually arrive, Music Pro will tack an extra $5 or $6 onto a standard Spotify Premium subscription, which currently starts at $11.99 per month. I’ve already made the switch to Apple Music, as I like knowing I’m getting the best quality possible for my money. But even I’ll be tempted to try Spotify’s ultimate plan once it’s ready. I don’t particularly miss Spotify Wrapped anymore, but it’s still the platform where most of my friends do their listening. If the company can string together an enticing bundle of perks, there’s always a chance I’d go back. It’d be a tough pill to swallow after using the far less bloated Apple Music app for so long, though.