Photo by Thibault Penin on Unsplash
For years, audiophiles and casual listeners alike have been waiting with bated breath for Spotify to deliver on one of its most anticipated promises: lossless audio streaming. First teased back in early 2021 under the name Spotify HiFi, the feature has become something of a digital ghost—talked about endlessly, but never quite materializing.
Now, it seems that the long wait may finally be nearing its end.
A New Set of Clues Hint at Imminent Launch
In recent days, a series of subtle but promising signs have emerged pointing to the potential rollout of Spotify’s long-delayed lossless streaming option. One of the more compelling discoveries comes from Spicetify, an open-source tool designed for customizing the Spotify desktop client through the command line.
The X (formerly Twitter) account for Spicetify revealed that a new version of the Spotify app contains several hidden mentions of “lossless” audio, buried within the user interface and backend code. For example, in one screenshot shared by the account, “lossless” appears as an option in the settings menu under streaming quality preferences. Another image shows a reference to “lossless” when connecting to external devices—suggesting the feature may be compatible with Spotify Connect, the company’s multi-device streaming protocol.
Beyond the UI hints, Spicetify also claims to have uncovered code-level support for lossless streaming within the web player—yet another strong signal that Spotify is preparing for a broad implementation.
Lossless Still Not Live, But Signs Are Promising
To be clear: Spotify has not officially launched its lossless streaming tier yet. The platform’s current streaming offerings, while solid for most users, are still compressed formats like Ogg Vorbis, which—while decent in quality—don’t quite match the sonic fidelity of lossless competitors like Tidal, Apple Music, or Amazon Music HD.
However, these recent breadcrumb trails—paired with reporting from credible sources—strongly indicate that the company may be closer than ever to flipping the switch.
A History of Delays and Rebranding
Let’s rewind. Back in February 2021, Spotify formally announced Spotify HiFi during its “Stream On” event. The feature was positioned as a premium-tier upgrade offering CD-quality audio to subscribers—a long-awaited upgrade for music purists and high-end headphone owners.
At the time, the company promised a rollout “later this year.” But that year came and went—without a peep. In fact, multiple years passed with no launch, no updates, and only vague reassurances that HiFi was still on the roadmap.
By 2023 and into early 2024, speculation started bubbling up again. In a public interview, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek referenced a “deluxe” tier that the company was developing—though he stopped short of confirming whether this was the same HiFi offering or something new entirely.
Then, in February 2024, a Bloomberg report breathed new life into the conversation. Citing internal sources, the article claimed that Spotify was working on a new subscription tier called “Music Pro.” This new tier would feature higher-quality audio, advanced playlist tools, and possibly even features tailored toward musicians and audiophiles.
According to Bloomberg, Music Pro may launch by the end of this year and could be priced $5.99 higher than the existing Premium subscription tier.
Why Lossless Audio Matters (and Who Cares)
To the average listener using Bluetooth earbuds during a commute, the difference between compressed and lossless audio may not be immediately obvious. But for audiophiles, musicians, producers, and anyone using high-end wired audio gear, the distinction is huge.
Lossless audio preserves every detail of the original recording, free from the artifacts and degradation introduced by compression. In simple terms, it’s like viewing a photo in 4K vs. one that’s been compressed into a blurry JPEG.
As streaming becomes the dominant form of music consumption, listeners have grown more discerning—and expectations have risen accordingly. Apple Music, for example, now offers lossless audio at no extra cost. Amazon Music HD does the same. Even Tidal, once mocked for its high pricing, now seems fairly reasonable in comparison.
In this landscape, Spotify’s absence from the lossless game has grown more conspicuous. It’s no longer a bonus feature—it’s the new baseline.
What to Expect from Spotify’s Lossless Tier
If the rumors hold true and Spotify does introduce a “Music Pro” or equivalent tier this year, what should users expect?
Based on what we know so far, here are the likely features:
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CD-quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) lossless audio, with potential for higher resolutions.
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Compatibility with Spotify Connect, allowing users to stream lossless quality on supported external devices.
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Web player support, making it accessible from browsers without app installation.
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Potential additional features like AI-generated playlists, exclusive content, or creator tools.
It’s also possible Spotify could implement adaptive bitrate streaming, where users can toggle between standard, high, and lossless depending on their bandwidth or data preferences.
But perhaps the biggest question is this: Will it be worth the extra cost?
Pricing and Value Perception
If Bloomberg’s $5.99 price hike estimate proves accurate, Spotify’s lossless tier would make its Premium plan roughly $16.99/month—more than Apple Music’s $10.99/month or Amazon’s $8.99/month for Prime members.
To justify this, Spotify will need to go beyond just audio quality. They’ll need to offer tangible value—be it in discovery tools, exclusive content, or features for creators and superfans. Otherwise, audiophiles may prefer to stay with platforms already offering similar (or better) quality at a lower price.
Still, Spotify does have one major advantage: its personalization engine and algorithmic recommendations are arguably the best in the game. If lossless audio is layered on top of that seamless discovery experience, the Music Pro tier might offer a powerful value proposition.
What’s Taking So Long?
One of the most frustrating elements of the Spotify HiFi saga is the sheer length of the delay. Why did a feature announced in 2021 still not materialize by mid-2025?
There are several possible reasons:
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Licensing and label negotiations – Lossless formats require higher data throughput and may come with different licensing terms. Spotify may have needed more time to renegotiate terms with rights holders.
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Cost-benefit concerns – Spotify, unlike Apple, doesn’t have a massive hardware ecosystem to subsidize feature rollouts. A poorly received paid tier could hurt their margins.
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Technical infrastructure – Scaling lossless delivery across Spotify’s massive user base takes bandwidth and backend resources.
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Market testing and branding confusion – The shift from “Spotify HiFi” to “Music Pro” hints at potential rebranding challenges or internal disagreements over positioning.
Regardless of the cause, the ongoing wait has certainly tested the patience of fans.
Final Thoughts: Hope on the Horizon
For years, Spotify has dangled the promise of audiophile-grade streaming just out of reach. But now, with fresh UI leaks, backend code sightings, and industry reports aligning, the long-promised lossless future may finally be on the verge of reality.
Whether it comes under the HiFi name, the rumored Music Pro tier, or something entirely new, one thing is clear: Spotify is running out of excuses. In an era where listeners have more options—and higher standards—than ever, delivering on the lossless promise is no longer optional. It’s overdue.