After a four-year delay, Spotify's HiFi feature is finally nearing launch, with reports indicating that the music streaming service is close to securing the necessary deals to introduce its Music Pro add-on in 2025. The feature, initially announced in 2021, was meant to roll out later that year but was delayed due to various reasons, including music rights issues and the need to rework the plan into a broader "Music Pro" add-on.

The HiFi feature was initially intended to offer lossless and high-resolution audio, but Spotify's competitors, Apple Music and Amazon, managed to successfully deliver similar features at no additional cost to subscribers. This led to Spotify going radio silent on the feature, with occasional glimpses of its development through code digging and employee access to lossless streaming.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Spotify's delay was partly due to music rights issues, as the company didn't have the necessary rights from all major music companies to launch the feature. However, it's also believed that Spotify realized that higher-bitrate music streams alone wouldn't be enough to justify an "ultimate" subscription tier, as many users may not be able to hear the difference between lossy and CD-quality streams or lack the necessary hardware to appreciate the upgrade.

As a result, Spotify has been reworking the plan into a broader Music Pro add-on that extends beyond audio quality. The exact features of Music Pro are still unclear, but past reports have mentioned possibilities such as early-access concert ticketing, DJ remixing tools, and optimization tricks for specific earbuds, headphones, and speakers. Spotify's user surveys have also hinted at features like karaoke and the option to add an additional user account to any Music Pro subscription.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has mentioned the upcoming deluxe tier on multiple occasions, stating that it would offer "all of the benefits that the normal Spotify version has, but a lot more control, a lot higher quality across the board, and some other things that I'm not ready to talk about just yet." The company plans to roll out Music Pro in phases, adding tools and features over time, with Ek claiming that Spotify will "double down on music in 2025."

When Music Pro eventually arrives, it's expected to add an extra $5 or $6 to a standard Spotify Premium subscription, which currently starts at $11.99 per month. While the exact features and pricing are still unclear, the prospect of an "ultimate" subscription tier from Spotify could be enticing, especially for users who value high-quality audio and additional features.

As the music streaming landscape continues to evolve, Spotify's Music Pro add-on could be a key factor in the company's continued profitability. With Apple Music and Amazon already offering lossless and high-resolution audio, Spotify needs to differentiate itself with a compelling bundle of perks to attract and retain users. Whether Music Pro will be enough to tempt users back to Spotify remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the wait for HiFi has been long, and its eventual launch will be a significant milestone for the music streaming service.