© Christian Hartmann/Reuters
Spotify may soon unveil a new “Music Pro” subscription tier providing high-quality lossless audio streams and advanced remixing tools. According to code discovered in the Spotify app by Reddit user Hypixely, Music Pro would offer FLAC files up to 24-bit/44.1kHz resolution.
The code also references what seem to be TikTok-like song editing features for creating mixes and adjusting playback speeds. Basic mixing may come to standard Premium accounts as well. Additionally, Music Pro could optimize audio for specific headphone models using “patented tuning” to improve sound quality on headphones like AirPods.
We’ve asked Spotify for more details but haven’t heard back yet. This lines up with Spotify’s previous promises of a “HiFi” option last year, though 2021 came and went without its release. Competition from Amazon and Apple, who both implemented lossless streaming without extra fees, has likely increased pressure on Spotify to deliver.
While lossless playback alone may not justify higher pricing, Music Pro appears aimed at giving subscribers more value through advanced tools and optimized audio. However, it remains to be seen if customers will pay up given that many can’t notice the benefits of lossless audio or have use for complex mixing utilities. As the market leader, rolling out Music Pro could help Spotify address financial concerns by making some user base segments more lucrative.
