Spotify introduces lossless audio for Premium users
Spotify has introduced lossless audio quality for Premium users across specific territories. These include Australia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the US, and the UK.
Account holders will be notified through the Spotify app when the feature becomes available in their region. Once active, they will be able to stream tracks up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, a move the company hopes will finally combat longstanding criticisms over sound quality.
“The wait is finally over; we’re so excited lossless sound is rolling out to Premium subscribers,” said Gustav Gyllenhammar, VP Subscriptions, Spotify. “We’ve taken time to build this feature in a way that prioritizes quality, ease of use, and clarity at every step, so you always know what’s happening under the hood. With Lossless, our Premium users will now have an even better listening experience.”
Lossless must be manually enabled, and can be accessed through Settings & Privacy within Spotify, then clicking on Media Quality. This is compatible with WiFi and cellular connections, alongside downloaded content. The news follows hot on the heels of another recent update from the streaming giant, which added direct messaging last month. These updates come as the price of a Premium account is set to increase later this month in multiple territories
Meanwhile, Spotify continues to court controversy, with a number of artists removing their work from the streaming platform. Xiu Xiu, Kalahari Oyster Cult, and Deerhoof are amongst the artists and labels to have exited the platform in response to CEO and co-founder Daniel Ek’s connections to AI military defence company Helsing, including June’s €600 million investment in the firm, and a previous €100 million stake acquired in 2021.
