Spotify Premium Platinum: Lossless Audio Now Available

Spotify Introduces New Premium Tiers in Select Markets

Spotify is restructuring its premium subscription options, unveiling new tiers – Premium Lite, Premium Standard, and Premium Platinum – in five key markets. These include India, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

Previous Premium Options

Before this update, Spotify’s offerings in regions like India consisted of Premium Standard, Duo (designed for two users), and Family plans (supporting up to six users). These plans provided features such as uninterrupted, ad-free listening, the ability to download music for offline playback, and high-quality audio streaming.

Details of the New Premium Tiers

The newly introduced Premium tiers will distribute these features across different plans, catering to a wider range of user preferences and budgets.

• Premium Lite: Priced at ₹139 per month ($1.57), this tier offers ad-free listening and audio quality at 160 kbps.
• Premium Standard: Available for ₹199 per month ($2.25), this plan includes offline support and enhanced audio quality at 320 kbps.
• Premium Platinum: The most comprehensive option, costing ₹299 ($3.37) monthly, grants access to Spotify’s new Lossless audio tier. It also allows for account sharing with two additional users.

Additional Platinum Tier Benefits

Subscribers to the Platinum plan will also gain access to Spotify’s innovative AI DJ feature. This feature provides real-time commentary during song playback and enables users to submit song requests.

Furthermore, the Platinum tier unlocks access to the platform’s AI-powered playlist creation tools, offering a personalized music experience.

Integration with DJ Software

In September, Spotify announced compatibility with AI software such as rekordbox, Serato, and djay. This integration allows users to import their existing music libraries to create custom sets and mixes. Access to this integration is exclusive to Platinum tier subscribers.

Limited Market Availability

It’s important to note that these features have been available in other markets, like North America and Europe, for some time. However, the five countries receiving these new tiers are experiencing access to these functionalities for the first time.

Potential for Global Expansion of Lossless Audio

Rumors of a “super premium” plan with access to lossless audio have circulated for several years. While currently limited to select markets, Spotify may expand this offering globally, positioning lossless audio as a premium feature. Currently, Premium users in over 50 countries can enjoy tracks in 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC quality.

Subscription Transition

Existing Spotify subscribers will have their current subscriptions carried over seamlessly. However, new subscribers will no longer be able to purchase the older Duo or Family plans and will be required to select one of the new tiers.

Price Adjustments and Benefit Changes in India

For new subscribers in India, Spotify is adjusting subscription prices while simultaneously reducing some of the benefits previously included in the standard Premium plan. The current price of the Standard individual plan, ₹139 ($1.57) per month, now matches the price of the new Lite plan.

The Family plan now costs ₹229 ($2.58) per month and supports six members. Account sharing is now restricted to the Platinum plan, priced at ₹299 ($3.37), which allows for three users. Users who do not require lossless streaming or AI features will have limited options.

Global Pricing Trends

Spotify has also implemented pricing changes in other markets. Over the past two years, the U.S. subscription price has increased from $9.99 to $11.99 per month, representing two separate price hikes.