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News is pouring in that Spotify, the music streaming giant, is planning on increasing its subscription prices yet again. This scoop, derived from unnamed sources speaking with Bloomberg, unveils the company's intention to charge an additional $1 to $2 per month. The countries set to witness this rise initially by the end of April include the UK, Australia, and Pakistan; the two other countries remain undisclosed. Changes will also come to the United States, though later in the year.
Affording Audio-Books
The hike in subscription fees has been justified as a necessary move to cover the costs associated with audiobooks, a new type of content Spotify introduced in November. Although popular among users, the inclusion of audiobooks presents a financial challenge to the platform. Record payments to publishers inevitably strain Spotify's pockets, implying the necessity for higher subscription prices to facilitate these additions.
Music and Podcasts – A New Combo
For those users who do not enjoy audiobooks, Spotify is planning to skew their strategy a bit: they will introduce another subscription plan that only offers music and podcasts, excluding audiobooks. This approach will maintain current prices for individual premium plans while leaving those interested in audiobooks to pay separately.
No official updates have been given about the eagerly anticipated Supremium plan. However, rumors are circulating that its launch is just around the corner. Certain Reddit users have stumbled upon the Dolby Atmos logo on the official Spotify player, possibly hinting at the inclusion of spatial audio as a forthcoming feature.
Best Spotify Alternatives
As enticing as Spotify's new features and plans might be, they may not appease everyone. With the possibility of further price hikes, some subscribers may prefer alternative platforms. Here are three excellent alternatives to consider:
Tidal: Top Overall Alternative
Tidal stands out as the optimum alternative to Spotify for music enthusiasts, offering an impressive audio quality due to high-resolution streaming. At a cost matching that of a standard Spotify subscription, users gain access to thousands of music videos and millions of songs, all within an easily navigable user interface. Tidal also offers CD-quality audio through their HiFi Plus subscription, albeit at a heftier fee of $20 a month. However, the podcast selection available on Tidal is not as exhaustive as on Spotify.
Qobuz: Ideal for Audiophiles
If superior audio quality is your top priority, consider subscribing to Qobuz. This service allows music streaming in the top-quality 24-bit FLAC format up to 192KHz. Delivering better than CD-quality music, it reigns superior to Spotify's offerings. What differentiates Qobuz is that it includes the 24-bit FLAC format within its basic tier subscription, and users can also buy individual albums. Despite being the priciest of the alternatives, Qobuz currently offers a discount for yearly subscriptions.
YouTube Music: Maximum Content Choices
While popular, YouTube Music often doesn’t get recognized for its potency as a music streaming platform. Although equivalent to Spotify in terms of audio quality, YouTube Music excels in its vast content library. It offers millions of songs, countless podcasts, and a diverse selection of audiobooks free of charge, enabled by a no-forced-radio-playlist rule.
To get the best listening experience on any of these platforms, make sure you have a great pair of headphones. You can check out my Amazon affiliate link for TechRadar's list of the best headphones for 2024 here.
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