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Spotify News
TechCrunch
5h
179
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Senators urge FTC to investigate Spotify’s higher-priced bundled subscription
- U.S. Senators request the FTC to investigate Spotify for bundling music and audiobook services into a pricier subscription without user consent and reducing royalty payments to creators.
- Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ben Ray Luján allege Spotify of converting premium subscriptions to costlier bundled subscriptions without informing customers.
- Spotify's actions are seen as an attempt to lessen statutory royalties to songwriters and music publishers, harming the creative community and consumers.
- Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) previously sued Spotify for undercompensating songwriters and publishers.
- In 2024, Spotify upgraded Premium tiers with 15 hours of audiobooks, increasing costs to $12 for individuals and $20 for families, requiring users to opt out manually.
- Publishers reportedly lost $230 million in the first year due to this restructure, as per the National Music Publishers' Association.
- Spotify mentioned notifying users in advance of the price change and offering easy cancellations and multiple plan options.
- The letter to the FTC emphasizes concern over Spotify's bundled subscriptions impacting creators and consumers.
- The lawsuit against Spotify by MLC was dismissed in January.
- U.S. regulations allow reduced music royalty rates for bundled subscriptions with other services.
- Senators Blackburn and Luján aim to address Spotify's alleged lack of transparency and effects on the creative industry.
- The FTC has been urged to investigate Spotify's practices regarding subscription bundling and their financial consequences.
- Spotify spokesperson mentions prior notification to users and flexibility in subscription plans.
- The situation reflects ongoing concerns over fair compensation for artists and the impact of subscription changes.
- The allegations against Spotify highlight the complex relationship between streaming platforms, royalties, and user consent.
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BGR
3d
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Spotify’s Lossless plan is about to launch, this time for real
- Spotify is gearing up to launch a more premium tier named Spotify Lossless, HiFi, or Music Pro for higher-quality songs.
- The latest iOS update of Spotify includes new strings referencing lossless support up to 24-bit/44.1KHz (FLAC + Widevine) capability.
- The new lossless features will work on Spotify Connect and the Web Player, enabling users to stream or download songs in higher quality.
- Spotify is also developing an Enhance Headphones feature for clearer sound and references Spatial Audio, possibly unrelated to Dolby Atmos.
- The exact launch date of the lossless functionality remains unknown, but it is expected to arrive soon.
- Since 2021, Spotify has been planning a High-Fidelity tier to compete with Apple Music, possibly costing an additional $5.99 on top of the Premium subscription.
- The new Music Pro tier is anticipated to include extra perks like access to resales or better concert seats.
- Spotify aims to target dedicated music fans who spend on merchandise, concert tickets, and fan clubs, potentially boosting its profitability.
- BGR will keep updating on Spotify's Music Pro tier details and notify users once the subscription is accessible.
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Macrumors
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Spotify Preparing to Launch Long-Awaited Lossless Audio Tier on iPhone
- Spotify is gearing up to launch its long-awaited lossless music tier.
- Code within Spotify's desktop app, web player, and iPhone app suggests the imminent arrival of lossless audio.
- Lossless audio retains all audio data from the original recording.
- Spotify's lossless audio is expected to be 24-bit at 44.1 kHz.
- The code hints at the availability of lossless audio for streaming or downloading within the Spotify app on iPhone.
- In February, reports suggested that Spotify might introduce a Music Pro subscription tier with higher-quality audio, remixing tools, and concert ticket access for an additional cost.
- The launch date for Spotify's lossless audio remains unclear, with a potential release later this year.
- Spotify initially announced plans for a Hi-Fi tier with lossless audio in 2021.
- Apple Music had made most songs available in lossless audio in 2021 at no extra cost, making Spotify's delayed rollout possibly include additional fees.
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Androidauthority
4d
125
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Don’t give me hope: Spotify’s long-awaited lossless tier shows signs of life again
- Spotify's long-awaited HiFi lossless audio tier is showing signs of nearing release, hinted by new asset file leaks.
- The upcoming tier is expected to offer music in 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC files, potentially consuming up to 1 GB of data per hour.
- It's speculated that this feature might be part of a 'Music Pro' tier, costing an additional $5.99 monthly on top of the current subscription.
- The HiFi tier was initially announced in February 2021, but has yet to be launched, despite ongoing leaks and indications in the past.
- Spotify's CEO hinted at offering 'better sound quality' through a Spotify Super Premium plan, reaffirming the existence of the HiFi tier.
- Newly leaked asset files suggest that Spotify's HiFi lossless tier is still in development and could be nearing its release.
- Reverse engineer Chris Messina found strings within Spotify indicating the upcoming Lossless tier's imminent launch.
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TechJuice
5d
402
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Spotify Fans Jealous as iOS 26 Apple Music Feature Goes Viral
- Apple’s iOS 26 update brings significant improvements to Apple Music, including AutoMix, a DJ tool for seamless transitions between tracks.
- iOS 26 introduces Sing feature, allowing iPhones to act as microphones for karaoke connected to Apple TV with real-time lyrics and audience responses.
- Music Pins and Lyrics Translation are new additions in Apple Music, enhancing user experience with machine learning-powered features.
- Apple Music fans have been excited about the innovations, with a viral TikTok showcasing AutoMix receiving positive feedback.
- Some Spotify users are expressing envy over Apple Music’s features, praising the platform's sleek interface and global rollout.
- Analysts view Apple’s iOS 26 update as a move to compete with Spotify, offering unique features like beat matched mixing and karaoke mode.
- Apple's global launch of these upgrades contrasts with Spotify's staggered releases, intensifying the rivalry in the streaming space.
- Users may switch between streaming services based on the features and overall user experience, with AutoMix potentially being a deciding factor.
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Medium
1w
138
Image Credit: Medium
Spotify’s Shorts: TikTok Meets Tunes — A Case Study in Product Strategy
- Spotify has introduced vertical videos, called Spotify Shorts, to enhance user experience and compete with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
- The move is to cater to Gen Z preferences, who prefer swiping and algorithmic music discovery through bite-sized content and infinite scroll experiences.
- Spotify aims to address the challenge posed by TikTok, which has become a dominant music discovery platform despite Spotify's robust music recommendation engine.
- Spotify integrates vertical videos into artist pages and song contexts, focusing on curation rather than user-generated content creation like in TikTok.
- The algorithm for Spotify Shorts suggests videos related to the user's current listening preferences and learns from user engagement over time.
- Key metrics of interest for the Spotify product team include engagement, discovery, and platform metrics, especially the discovery-to-save conversion rate to validate the visual hypothesis.
- Spotify is betting on visual, algorithmic, and addictive attention models for the future, understanding that platforms need to grasp attention mechanisms beyond just music functionality.
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Ubergizmo
2h
207
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Spotify HiFi Lossless Streaming May Be Launching Soon
- Spotify may be on the verge of launching its HiFi lossless audio streaming feature, as hidden references have been found in the app's latest version.
- The discovery was made by the team behind Spicetify, revealing mentions of 'lossless' audio quality in the app's device connection menu and streaming quality settings.
- Further evidence in the app's code suggests support for lossless audio on Spotify Connect and the web version, hinting at an imminent release in an upcoming update.
- Initially announced in 2021, the HiFi feature was delayed but is now reportedly in its final stages of preparation for launch by the end of 2025.
- Spotify's CEO hinted at a 'deluxe' version called 'Music Pro', expected to include high-resolution audio among other features.
- If launched, the HiFi plan could be a premium add-on priced around $5.99 on top of existing subscription plans, matching competitors like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal.
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Eu-Startups
6h
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Italian EdTech startup Wibo raises €500k for its upskilling and leadership programmes
- Turin-based EdTech startup Wibo has secured a €500k funding round to enhance its upskilling and leadership training programs in Italy.
- The funding round was led by a group of notable business leaders and supported by Talent Garden and VC fund Techstars.
- Wibo aims to combine human and tech skills through live sessions, exercises, and practical tools in its training model.
- The startup plans to expand its team, focus on AI training areas, and develop proprietary technology with the new funding.
- Founded in 2019, Wibo transitioned from a quiz app to a live quiz platform before pivoting to HR and Learning & Development training.
- Its model integrates human skills like leadership and communication with AI practical use, partnering with over 150 corporates and training 14,500+ individuals.
- Wibo's programs are designed to be immediately applicable to everyday work, aiming to create a memorable and practical learning experience.
- The startup addresses the perceived ineffectiveness of traditional corporate training by providing business-oriented, experiential programs led by industry executives.
- With insights from executives of major companies like Nike, Amazon, and Google, Wibo's training includes simulations, role-playing, and actionable steps for participants to implement.
- Wibo emphasizes bridging the gap between human and AI skills to drive business success by leveraging real-world experiences in its training.
- The startup plans to hire 5 new team members in product, tech, and customer success areas, aiming for continued growth and impact.
- Wibo has launched a pre-registration list for its Wibo Humans+AI Mini-Academy, offering free access to interested individuals.
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Moneyweb
3d
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Tencent music shares double on break from China price cut script
- Shares of Tencent Music Entertainment Group and NetEase Cloud Music have doubled since the end of 2023, outperforming most Chinese internet peers.
- Tencent Music has seen four consecutive quarters of growth in revenue per paying user by driving subscribers to more expensive plans, defying the trend of deep price cuts in other tech sectors in China.
- The Chinese online music industry is dominated by Tencent Music and NetEase due to consolidation, with Spotify blocked in China.
- Tencent Music has about 555 million monthly active users and a paid subscription rate of around 22%, while Spotify's paid penetration rate is approximately 40%.
- Tencent Music's monetization strategy includes a Super Premium VIP tier offering exclusive content and early access to artist merchandise and live events for around $4 per month.
- Goldman Sachs analysts forecast a rise in premium member percentage to 19% by 2027 and expect growth in average revenue per paid user for Tencent Music.
- Tencent Music, like Spotify, is expanding into other services such as purchasing a Chinese podcasting startup and acquiring a stake in a South Korean K-pop agency.
- Competition in the Chinese online music market is stable with only Tencent Music and NetEase Cloud Music being the major players, leading to innovative ways of monetizing users.
- NetEase Cloud Music stock has outperformed by turning profitable quickly while Tencent Music boasts a robust content library and broad user base.
- Tencent Music's valuation is at 21 times forward earnings estimates, considered attractive compared to Spotify's valuation of nearly 60 times, with potential for price increases.
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Siliconangle
4d
378
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Connected venues and data insight: Ericsson and SAS Institute work together to maximize the fan experience
- Ericsson and SAS Institute have collaborated on tech solutions in the sports world to enhance the fan experience through 5G connected venues and data insights.
- The focus is on providing robust Wi-Fi connectivity in stadiums filled with smartphone-carrying fans to meet the demands of fan interest and business operations.
- Peter Linder from Ericsson and Jenn Chase from SAS Institute discussed their collaboration during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE.
- The 5G connected venue solution evolves the fan experience by supporting payment terminals and various business operations at the venue.
- SAS Institute's partnership with the Orlando Magic involves using the SAS Viya data and AI platform for optimizing ticket sales forecasting and enhancing fan engagement.
- In-stadium networks must also cater to the needs of television partners using 5G-connected broadcast cameras, requiring efficient network capacity management.
- The ability to provide virtual private networks and network slicing allows for the seamless integration of professional TV cameras over 5G.
- The collaboration between Ericsson and SAS Institute brings new capabilities to stadium networks to improve connectivity and fan experience.
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The Verge
4d
306
Image Credit: The Verge
Spotify’s HiFi lossless streaming might really, finally, actually be coming soon
- Spotify's lossless streaming feature may finally be close to launching after years of waiting, with new hints suggesting its imminent arrival.
- Spicetify, a Spotify client customization tool, discovered hidden references to lossless streaming in a new Spotify version.
- Screenshots shared by the Spicetify account show mentions of lossless in the app's settings and options for device connection.
- Although Spotify's lossless streaming is not live yet, these findings indicate the feature's potential near introduction.
- Spotify had announced a 'Spotify HiFi' tier in 2021, originally scheduled for launch that year, which didn't materialize.
- Spotify CEO Daniel Ek mentioned working on a 'deluxe' version of Spotify in 2024, and recent reports suggest a new 'Music Pro' tier could be introduced by the end of this year.
- Bloomberg reported that the new tier might cost up to $5.99 more than current subscriptions and could feature higher-quality streaming.
- Other music services like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal already provide lossless streaming options.
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TechCrunch
4d
114
Image Credit: TechCrunch
New code in Spotify’s app references the long-awaited ‘lossless’ tier
- Spotify has hinted at a long-awaited lossless audio tier through references in its app code.
- Newly added references in the Spotify desktop app's code mention a 'lossless' tier under development.
- The code snippets include help cards explaining the offerings and troubleshooting for the lossless tier.
- References to 'lossless' have been spotted in the desktop app, describing the best sound quality at 24-bit/44.1 kHz.
- Changes were also noted in the mobile app mentioning high-fidelity music up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.
- However, the feature seems to be currently disabled in the mobile app.
- Previous leaks and code references have hinted at a lossless tier, but it hasn't been launched yet.
- Spotify executives have mentioned investing in premium products for 'super fans' without specifying a launch date for higher-quality streaming options.
- Spotify initially planned a lossless service in 2021, encountering delays due to licensing issues.
- Recent deals with major labels might pave the way for the long-awaited lossless tier launch.
- Reports suggest a Music Pro tier could launch in 2025, offering high-quality streaming and remixing features.
- Spotify has not commented on the Music Pro tier report.
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Medium
5d
273
Revolutionizing Music Discovery: A Seamless Netflix & Spotify Experience!
- Spotify sees an opportunity to integrate music discovery with consumption to enhance user experience and strengthen its platform.
- A proposed solution involves a strategic API integration with Netflix for instant song additions to Spotify playlists while watching Netflix content.
- Key features include scalability, security measures, backend infrastructure for reliable song additions, and error handling mechanisms.
- The focus is on enhancing user engagement and acquisition through the integration, rather than direct revenue sharing.
- Collaboration between Spotify and Netflix teams is crucial for successful implementation, including API documentation, legal agreements, and marketing initiatives.
- Success metrics for Spotify include API support, UI/UX design, communication clarity, and leveraging music catalog metadata.
- Potential future enhancements for Spotify post MVP rollout are being considered.
- Strategic integration with Netflix can enhance Spotify's value proposition, drive engagement, and bridge the gap between passive viewing and active music listening.
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Tech Radar
7d
87
Image Credit: Tech Radar
Spotify just got a big upgrade for offline playlists - and it's particularly good news for Android users
- Spotify has upgraded offline playback, allowing Premium subscribers to download playlists and podcasts to other devices remotely.
- Users can now download music and podcasts to smartwatches including WearOS devices.
- A new feature 'Manage downloads' has been added to help users handle their downloads more efficiently.
- The three-dot icon allows users to easily tap 'Download to other devices' for a simplified downloading process.
- The feature allows downloads to other devices from anywhere, making it convenient for users.
- Spotify's five-device download limit is addressed by the 'Manage downloads' tab, providing a clear view and control over active downloads.
- The tab shows a list of devices where content has been downloaded, allowing users to make changes remotely.
- Spotify's new features are particularly beneficial for WearOS and smartwatch users.
- The upgrades make it easier for users to download music prior to activities like running without using the small screen of the smartwatch.
- The downloading process is simplified, enhancing user experience and convenience.
- Premium subscribers globally are getting access to the new download feature for offline playback on Spotify.
- The upgrades aim to enhance user control over downloads and improve the overall Spotify experience.
- The new features cater to users of various devices including smartwatches and laptops.
- Spotify is providing more tools for users to manage their downloads effectively across multiple devices.
- Aside from downloading playlists, the feature also extends to podcasts and albums.
- Overall, the updates are geared towards optimizing the offline playback experience for Spotify users.
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Ubergizmo
1w
196
Image Credit: Ubergizmo
Instagram’s New Features: Spotify Integration To Notes And Customizable Grid
- Instagram has introduced Spotify music integration into Notes for real-time sharing of songs being listened to.
- This update enhances the temporary status feature in Stories by syncing directly with Spotify.
- The integration provides a dynamic, real-time connection between Instagram and Spotify.
- Users can now tap the green bubble in Notes to view the full song title and artist name.
- Another upcoming feature allows users to manually rearrange posts on their profile grid.
- This customization feature gives users more control over their profile layout.
- Instagram is expanding access to a reels testing feature to preview video performance with new audiences.
- The platform aims to reduce pressure on users and encourage creativity through its 'Anyway' campaign.
- More features are in development to further support users in managing online posting anxiety.
- Meta confirmed development of a native Instagram app for iPad to enhance user experience.
- The updates align with Instagram's efforts to modernize and improve user experience.
- The 'Add to Spotify' button introduced last year paved the way for this new direct integration.
- Users previously had to manually add music to Notes, but now it's automated for a more expressive experience.
- Creators and brands will benefit from the ability to rearrange posts on their profile grid.
- Access to the reels testing feature led to a 40% increase in posting frequency among early adopters.
- The customizable grid feature will be welcomed by many Instagram users for enhanced profile presentation.
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