Spotify expands audiobooks to over 180 markets

Spotify has recently announced its expansion of audiobook access to a staggering 180 markets globally, including regions in Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. This rollout is set to commence today and is expected to span several months. With this development, over 750 million users will gain access to a wider selection of audiobooks, allowing the platform to better compete with both music streaming services and dedicated audiobook applications like Audible.

Prior to this expansion, audiobooks were primarily offered in English-speaking markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as in Germany. The expansion has boosted Spotify's library to include over 350,000 titles available in more than 120 languages. For instance, Spanish-speaking users in Spain will now have access to over 45,000 titles in their native language.

To increase its content offerings, Spotify has partnered with more than 300 publishers worldwide, including publishing giants Planeta and Mondadori. With a Premium subscription, users residing in eligible countries like Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Chile, Norway, and Peru can listen to up to 12 hours of audiobooks per month.

Alternatively, users can opt for a standalone Audiobook+ subscription, which offers a 15-hour listening allowance. The platform also allows users to purchase individual titles directly. In a bid to cater to students, Spotify is set to introduce an Audiobook+ add-on in select regions in November. Since its introduction last year, Audiobook+ has amassed over 1 million subscribers and generated over $100 million in annual recurring revenue for the platform.

In February, Spotify launched a "Page Match" feature, enabling users to scan a physical book's page and instantly locate the corresponding segment in the audiobook version. According to Spotify, this feature has seen over 1 million monthly users since its launch. Additionally, the company observed a 40% increase in monthly audiobook listeners and a 30% rise in listening hours over the past year.

This year, Spotify has also introduced Audiobook Charts, which enables users to discover trending titles. Furthermore, the company has developed an AI-powered tool for authors to convert their books into audiobooks using ElevenLabs' models. Lastly, Spotify has begun experimenting with physical book sales through its audiobook platform in select markets, including the United States and the United Kingdom.