Spotify seems to be preparing to raise the cost of its subscriptions, which annoys me.
Apple Music and Tidal do not charge an additional cost for high-resolution music.
Spotify has finalized a new agreement with Warner Music Group, which could mean the long-awaited arrival of a Hi-Fi level for true enthusiasts and music lovers. As competing services have begun to offer high-resolution audio as a standard option, the streaming platform faces increased complexity in light of the recent announcement.
On February 6, Spotify and Warner Music Group announced a partnership to "offer new experiences for fans, a deeper catalog of music and video, as well as new levels of paid subscription and differentiated content packages." This agreement will likely expand Spotify's library, which currently includes 80,000 songs, and the new premium level aimed at superfans is anticipated to launch in 2025.
This could finally allow Spotify subscribers to access high-resolution audio, something that platforms like Tidal and Apple Music have provided for years. However, this possibility also represents an additional complication in the already extensive content offerings of the company.
One of Spotify's strengths has been its simplicity, as it has not divided its user base into different pricing options beyond 'free' and 'premium'. This has allowed casual users to avoid the decision of choosing Hi-Fi audio when their mobile devices and low-end headphones cannot adequately reproduce it. Moreover, there is no need to evaluate other content services at the time of subscription, unlike what happens with Apple One or Amazon Prime. For those opting for the free version, it is very easy to select a song and start listening.
However, as the platform has grown in ambition and reach, with the incorporation of recognized podcast hosts and expanded video content, the complexity has only increased. In some countries, there are already separate tiers that do not offer access to audiobooks and different options for individuals and families. The introduction of the new superfans tier only adds more options and available packages.
On the other hand, the suggestion of a new limited access (paywall) for high-resolution audio is a cause for concern. Currently, both Apple Music and Tidal integrate Hi-Res audio into their basic packages, unlike what appears to be Spotify's strategy, which involves an additional pay barrier instead of attracting users from the outset with this functionality.
Considering that Spotify pays considerably less per stream to artists compared to Apple and Tidal, it’s hard to imagine that monetized superfans would allocate more money to artists rather than to Spotify’s coffers. Nonetheless, given the platform's market position, it is unlikely that it will face negative consequences for implementing a paywall on a feature that its competitors offer as standard.
Spotify continues to dominate the music streaming sector, with a free ad-supported service that boosts its subscriber count to over 650 million, giving it a significant edge over Apple Music and Tidal. It is simply the place where most people listen to music today.
For those Spotify users who have eagerly awaited the arrival of high-resolution audio, this new strategy may be exciting, although it also raises the question of why they have not considered switching to another platform.