Spotify has announced a big update for its premium users: Lossless Listening is here. This new feature lets listeners stream music in a higher-quality format, allowing them to enjoy their favorite songs with incredible detail.
In the past, when artists uploaded their music, it often got compressed. This compression could lose some audio quality. But with Lossless Listening, Spotify aims to bring back the clarity that was lost. Imagine hearing every subtle note of an acoustic guitar or background whispers in a track. That’s the kind of experience this feature offers.
Gustav Gyllenhammar, Spotify’s VP of subscriptions, said they focused on making the feature user-friendly while ensuring top-notch audio quality. “We’ve taken time to build this feature in a way that prioritizes quality, ease of use, and clarity,” he stated.
Spotify, founded in 2006, has grown to over 696 million users worldwide. Last year marked a milestone as the company reported its first annual net profit, earning over $1.3 billion with a total revenue of $18.4 billion. They have a massive library, featuring 100 million songs and nearly 7 million podcasts.
While Lossless Listening is an exciting addition, it’s worth noting that similar features have been around on other platforms for a while. Apple Music and Amazon Music introduced lossless audio in 2021 and 2019, respectively.
However, there’s a catch: the lossless files are larger than standard formats. This means they can’t be used over Bluetooth due to bandwidth issues. If you try, the quality will revert to regular sound. Users can enable this feature in their settings, and an icon will indicate when it’s active.
Spotify currently offers this feature for mobile, tablet, and desktop users. Premium subscriptions cost $11.99 a month, while a free ad-supported version is available.
As audio quality continues to evolve, it’s clear that users highly value the listening experience. Recent surveys show that 64% of music lovers prioritize sound quality over convenience. This trend suggests that more and more listeners are looking for ways to enhance their audio experience, making Spotify’s latest feature relevant and timely.
For more on Spotify’s offerings, you can check their official site here.
