Spotify will supply a brand new subscription tier referred to as HiFi.
James Martin/CNET
Spotify laid out its imaginative and prescient for “a brand new golden age of audio” on Monday, revealing it’s going to launch a new subscription tier called HiFi for high-quality audio later this yr and is increasing to more than 80 new countries within the subsequent few days. The streaming-music big additionally unveiled a set of recent instruments for artists and podcasters.
Spotify‘s digital Stream On occasion was the form of prolonged presentation that different tech corporations are inclined to trot out as soon as (or extra) a yr. However Spotify, the most important streaming service by each listeners and subscribers, hasn’t held considered one of these occasions since 2018 when it overhauled its free cellular tier. These modifications amped up what you might hear with a free account, unlocking on-demand songs that beforehand have been obtainable solely to paying clients. Adjustments like these, and Spotify’s obsession with expanding into podcasts of late, have vaulted the corporate to 345 million listeners and 155 million paying subscribers as of the top of final yr.
At Monday’s hour-plus occasion, Spotify stated it will launch a brand new high-quality audio subscription referred to as HiFi in choose markets later this yr. Spotify did not specify how a lot it will price or the place it will first roll out, however HiFi is predicted to price about $20 a month to be priced competitively with rivals. And it is most likely a secure guess that the brand new tier shall be obtainable within the US, which is the world’s greatest music market, in addition to Sweden, Spotify’s house base.
Spotify can also be embarking on its broadest expansion to new markets but, which can happen this week. It should widen considerably to greater than 80 new markets throughout Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe over the subsequent few days. And the corporate may also make Spotify obtainable in 36 new languages — together with Romanian, Hindi and Swahili — so it helps greater than 60 languages whole.
Spotify revealed new unique podcast programming, resembling a podcast from former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen referred to as Renegades: Born within the USA; Batman Unburied, a part of a partnership with Warner Bros. and DC Comics; and Ava Duvernay’s first podcast challenge, which focuses on felony justice. It additionally stated it had scored a take care of AGBO, the leisure firm from powerhouse film administrators Anthony and Joe Russo. The Russo brothers, who’ve spearheaded Marvel movie hits like Avengers: Infinity Warfare and Avengers: Finish Sport, will create a number of podcast collection for Spotify.
The corporate additionally used the occasion to tout new and widening instruments for creators, saying that its Spotify for Artists heart has matured as the corporate’s hub for individuals who publish music on Spotify and now homes a rising suite of instruments and assets. It stated it’s going to open its Canvas looping visible to all artists, widen its Marquee advertising and marketing instrument and launch Discovery Mode as a check later this yr for extra labels, which lets artists’ groups prioritize particular music that they need Spotify’s algorithms to favor.
A replay of Spotify’s Stream On occasion is out there at Spotify.com/StreamOn and YouTube.com/Spotify.
See additionally: Apple Music vs. Spotify: The best music streaming service for you
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