Spotify CEO announces that a ‘deluxe’ version featuring hi-fi audio is on the way.

The journey of Spotify HiFi has been filled with numerous delays and changes. Announced over three years ago, the high-quality streaming tier is still not available. Recent reports suggest that lossless audio will be included with additional features, such as advanced library management, AI-powered playlists, and headphone sound quality optimization, as an add-on to Spotify’s premium subscription. During a recent earnings call, Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, confirmed that an enhanced version of Spotify Premium is in development, but he did not provide a specific launch date.

Ek described the initiative as still being in the “early days” — a phrase that stands out given it’s been 1,247 days since HiFi was first announced. He hinted at a potential cost of around $17 or $18 per month, which is approximately $5 more than the current premium tier.

This “deluxe” version will offer higher quality audio and additional features beyond what is currently available with Spotify Premium.

This pricing aligns with Bloomberg’s predictions of a $5 increase on top of the $11.99 monthly rate for the premium service. Initially, Spotify planned to charge extra for higher-quality audio, but this strategy was upended when Apple and Amazon included high-resolution audio in their standard subscriptions.

Unlike Spotify, which relies solely on its music service, Apple and Amazon have other revenue streams to offset potential losses from competitive pricing.

To adapt, Spotify has restructured its plans, creating an add-on package designed to appeal to its most dedicated users. Ek believes there is a significant portion of Spotify’s 246 million subscribers who would be interested in a premium version with more flexibility and better audio quality.

Bloomberg has reported that Spotify plans to introduce this “deluxe” tier later this year. After a long wait, it appears that we are just a few months away from learning all the details of this new offering.