Streaming services are becoming a dime a dozen in the U.S., and all the big players (Spotify, Rdio, Beats Music, Pandora, et al.) follow a similar formula. Use our service free with ads, or pay for a “Premium” membership. That Premium membership is usually free from ads, has higher streaming quality (up to 320kbps with Spotify and others), and usually costs $9.99. It’s a tier system that most EDM lovers are comfy with, especially since Spotify signed deals with labels like Anjunabeats & Spinnin’ Records and other streaming services are increasing the amount of dance music they offer.
Deezer, one of Europe’s most popular streaming services, is coming Stateside and they have a message for those of us in the Colonies: great quality music should cost more money. Their Deezer Elite premium membership will rock in at $19.99 a month. The reason for the extra cost? Deezer Elite will stream music in 16-bit FLAC audio (or 1411kbps). This is a lossless, high-resolution audio format that blows the quality of Spotify out of the water. The other catch? Their service will only work through high-fidelity Sonos speaker systems.
It’s a huge gambit, and one that attempts to appeal to a new market that streaming services have missed: audiophiles. Whether or not selling to high-expectation ears when the majority of EDM fans listen on sub-$50 earbuds has yet to be seen, but if it works they’ll be the only ones in the market. Likely raking in cash.
You’ll be able to try the Deezer Elite service free for 30 days when it launches in the U.S. on September 15th.
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