Rumors, especially MacRumors, abound. While we are still in the conjecture stage, recent news suggests Apple will be rolling out a lossless CD-quality streaming service sooner than later.
MacRumors reports:
…code within the first beta of iOS 14.6 discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser confirms that Apple is exploring the option and preparing for a possible release.
Within the code for the first beta of the upcoming update, references to “lossless audio,” “high-quality stereo streaming,” and “HiFi” are found within the Apple Music app.
Of course there’s also code that suggests Apple Hi-Fi will be offered through Apple Music, the company’s music and video streaming service. Seeing as Spotify announced their plans to roll out a lossless CD-quality HiFi tier back in February, the time seems ripe for Apple to finally pull the trigger on their own CD-quality streaming service.
Hits Daily Double reports that Apple’s new Hi-Fi streaming service will cost just $9.99/month, the same as Apple’s standard plan. Ouch!
Here’s the competition:
Amazon Music HD = $14.99/month (CD-quality)
Spotify HiFi = *$9.99/month (CD-quality) *projected cost
Deezer HiFi = $14.99/month (CD-Quality)
Tidal HiFi = $19.99/month (CD-Quality and Hi-Res) [foootnote 1]
Qobuz Studio Premier = $14.99/month (CD-Quality and Hi-Res)
It’s worth noting that with a reported 72 million subscribers, Apple Music is a big fish in the streaming pond. Of course Spotify, with its 155 million Premium subscribers worldwide, is more whale-like, while Tidal’s subscriber base is estimated to be somewhere between 1 and 5 million, minnow-like by comparison. Qobuz numbers are not easy to find, and the only real data I was able to find was from 2019, when the company reported 200k subscribers. I’m sure this number has increased, especially with the recent Sonos news taken into account, but still, relatively small in the big picture.
What’s the good news if this Apple news turns out to be true? To my mind, more people with access to lossless music is a win win for anyone and everyone.
I will also highlight the obvious — Amazon, Spotify, Deezer, and if this reporting is correct, Apple, have chosen to skip hi-res and I have to assume this decision is based on solid market research. Which could turn out to be good news for Qobuz and Tidal, leaving them to duke it out for the audiophile market. What’s smaller than a minnow?
- Tidal recently rolled out a CD-Quality plan in Australia, HiFi ($17.99 AUD/month), that is expected to become an option world-wide
