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"Neil Young Ends Spotify Boycott Amid Disinformation Concerns"
1 year ago•Source: NBC News
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2.455 min•1 year ago
"Neil Young Ends Spotify Boycott Over Joe Rogan Controversy"
Neil Young is returning his music to Spotify after a two-year boycott, citing the spread of disinformation on Apple and Amazon platforms as well. He had initially pulled his music from Spotify in protest of the company's failure to curb COVID misinformation in "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. Young is urging Spotify to improve its sound quality and introduce a high-quality audio tier, while also criticizing the audio compression on the platform.
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Spotify to Launch Premium HiFi Audio Tier with More Expensive Subscription
Engadget•2 years ago
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Spotify to Introduce Costlier HiFi Audio Subscription Plan
TechCrunch•2 years ago
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Spotify's HiFi tier may come with a higher price tag.
Spotify is reportedly planning to release its lossless audio streaming feature, Spotify HiFi, in a new, more expensive subscription tier codenamed "Supremium" later this year, initially in non-US markets. The pricing of Spotify HiFi has been a source of much speculation, especially after competitors Amazon Music and Apple Music started offering lossless streaming as part of their standard plans at no additional charge. Spotify is also considering bundling access to audiobooks into its current Premium tier in the US from October, and potentially sooner in other markets.
Spotify tests 'Offline Mix' for spotty internet connections.
Spotify is testing a new feature called "Offline Mix" that creates a playlist using the content downloaded offline, similar to YouTube Music's "Offline Mixtape." The feature is designed to provide users with a mix of downloaded content, including songs from other playlists or albums. However, early results are mixed, with some users reporting that most of the songs in their mix haven't been downloaded to their device. It's unclear if the feature will be available to free users, as playlist/album downloads are currently exclusive to Premium subscribers.
"HomePod Users Rejoice: AirPlay 2 Issues Permanently Resolved"
Spotify has yet to add native support for HomePod and HomePod mini, despite Apple opening up the speakers to third-party streaming music services in 2020. Spotify has also repeatedly promised to update its iPhone and iPad app with AirPlay 2 support, but it has failed to deliver so far. Spotify told Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that it "remains committed to supporting AirPlay 2 at some point in the future" and is "on a path towards making it happen eventually," but the company was unable to provide a definitive timeframe.
The Hidden Gem of Apple Music That Everyone Should Know About
Apple Music's album descriptions, written by human experts, add context and trivia to a listen, making it akin to visiting a record shop or getting recommendations from a well-informed friend. While Spotify offers artist bios, the per-album write-ups are missing. The feature is only possible because Apple employs real, human music experts to curate its platform. The upcoming Apple Music Classical launch is expected to have as much detail as the current app.
Spotify HiFi Launch Still Delayed, Blames Industry Players.
Spotify's co-president Gustav Söderström has confirmed that the company's HiFi tier is still in the works and will be launched in a way that makes sense for the company and its listeners. Söderström blamed "other players in the industry" for the delay but did not provide any specifics. The Verge reports that Spotify HiFi has been ready for more than a year, but the launch was spoiled by Apple bundling lossless into Apple Music for free.
Spotify's HiFi Launch Delayed, but Still in the Works.
Spotify still plans to launch its lossless music experience, HiFi, but the timing and form of the launch are still undecided. Originally intended to cost more than the standard plan, Spotify's lossless is now expected to appear as part of a more extensive plan that includes access to spatial audio tracks and other perks. Apple Music and Amazon's inclusion of lossless listening options as part of their standard subscription price has made it less reasonable for Spotify to charge more for a like-for-like service.
Spotify promises HiFi feature is still on the horizon.
Spotify co-president Gustav Söderström confirmed that the streaming service is still working on its high-res audio tier, HiFi, but did not provide any launch date or support for spatial audio. Söderström hinted that the cost of HiFi and deals with music labels are major factors to the delay and that Spotify wants to do something "unique" with HiFi. The delay is also attributed to the company's need to adapt to a changing industry.