Is Spotify's HiFi Audio Feature Finally About to Drop?

Spotify has been promising to deliver a lossless audio tier since 2021, but if eagle-eyed observers are correct, an official launch of the 24-bit/44.1kHz service could be just around the corner.

Raising hope:

• As per TechCrunch via Music Ally, technologist and reverse engineer Chris Messina has reported that several references to “lossless” appeared in last week’s build of the Spotify desktop app.

• As per TechCrunch, some code snippets refer to help cards to educate users about what the lossless tier offers and how to use or troubleshoot the service.

• Other cards warn of songs that aren’t available in lossless, while another notes that lossless music is “best enjoyed on devices compatible with Spotify Connect and/or wired devices.”

• Messina and others also discovered that changes could be enabled in the app to make the lossless feature visible.

Heard it before:

• Code references have appeared before, but the high-quality audio tier never arrived.

• Though Spotify announced what it was calling Spotify HiFi in 2021, promising music in “CD-quality, lossless audio format,” it would eventually cite licensing issues for the delay in launching.

• Given that Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group signed new deals with the platform earlier this year, perhaps that is about to change.