While Spotify remains the world’s most popular on-demand music service, it has been slow to catch up with some features offered by competitors. However, that may change with the rumored launch of the “Supremium” plan. Supremium is speculated to be Spotify’s top-tier lossless audio subscription that includes additional features like AI playlists and extended audiobook listening.
Originally teased as “HiFi” in February 2021, Spotify faced delays and uncertainty about the launch date. However, in March 2023, Spotify’s president confirmed that some form of HiFi was still in the pipeline. The name “Supremium” surfaced in a Reddit leak and blog posts in 2023, although Spotify has yet to confirm this branding or release any specific details.
Supremium’s main highlight is expected to be its 24-bit lossless audio capability. While it is unknown which codecs will be supported, going lossless allows for the highest quality audio experience, particularly for users with high-end speakers or headphones. Spotify is aiming for zero lag, but it’s advisable to use Wi-Fi or offline caching due to lossless audio’s high bandwidth demands that can quickly consume cellular data.
Additionally, Supremium may feature AI-generated playlists based on prompts. Spotify recently partnered with OpenAI for podcast translations, which suggests the possibility of a natural language interface similar to ChatGPT. This feature could allow users to request personalized playlists like a “creepy ambient playlist for Halloween.”
Supremium might also provide additional mixing tools for playlists, such as arranging tracks based on BPM or using a “smart order” feature that adjusts the order based on key and tempo. Genre and mood filters, as well as cue points for smoother song transitions, could be included as well. In terms of audiobooks, Supremium may offer up to 30 hours of access, surpassing the current 15-hour limit for Premium subscribers. This could potentially challenge Amazon’s Audible service.
Supremium users might benefit from filtering their entire library by mood, activity, or genre, in addition to receiving a “Soundcheck” feature that analyzes their listening habits and identifies their unique tastes. Details about these features are scarce, but they aim to enhance the music discovery experience.
The rumored cost of the Spotify Supremium plan is $19.99 for an individual subscription, which aligns with comparable options from other providers. It is likely that there will also be Duo and Family versions of Supremium for two and six listeners, respectively, with price increases similar to the existing Premium plans.
Comparing Supremium to its competitors, Tidal’s HiFi Plus plan is the most obvious point of reference. It starts at $19.99 and includes lossless audio, support for spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio, music videos, and Tidal Connect. Amazon Music Unlimited presents another challenge with its lower pricing starting at $10.99, lossless quality for a subset of tracks, and support for Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio. Apple Music offers lossless audio in its $10.99 Individual tier or better, as well as Dolby Atmos support, unique offerings like a dedicated Classical app, and local file uploads, albeit with limited compatibility on non-Apple devices.
One potential distinctive feature of Supremium is its AI-generated playlists based on ChatGPT-style prompts, which none of its competitors currently offer. If executed effectively, this could make Supremium stand out in the industry.