Spotify HiFi nonetheless within the works

Spotify has confirmed that it’s certainly nonetheless engaged on its hi-res HiFi yr, although it’s nonetheless being frustratingly obscure on the specifics.

Over the weekend we named Spotify our loser of the week for as soon as once more failing to disclose something on the lengthy delayed HiFi tier at at its Stream On occasion. The music streaming large first introduced its hi-res audio tier in 2021, then promptly went quiet on the matter.

Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s co-president and chief product and expertise officer, was requested instantly about this irritating behaviour just lately by The Verge.

“We introduced it, however then the business modified for a bunch of causes,” mentioned Söderström. “We’re going to do it, however we’re going to do it in a manner the place it is smart for us and for our listeners.”

When pressed on how the business had modified precisely, and whether or not the price of the enterprise was the deciding issue (music labels cost extra for hi-res entry), Söderström acknowledged that “We need to do it in a manner the place it really works for us from a value perspective as effectively”, however declined to elaborate.

There’s some hope, then, in that Spotify continues to be intent on releasing a hi-res streaming tier sooner or later sooner or later. However there’s frustration, too, within the lack of a strong time scale or an in depth clarification of what’s occurring.

One factor appears sure: every time Spotify HiFi does seem, it may not look or work like different current hi-res choices. “We need to attempt to do one thing that’s our personal and distinctive,” mentioned Söderström.