YouTube reportedly ‘looking’ into adding audiobooks to Premium

Recent reports suggest that YouTube may be contemplating the inclusion of audiobooks as a supplementary content category alongside its existing offerings of music and video. This potential addition, as per a Wall Street Journal report, is still in the exploratory stage, with no definitive timeline or specifics regarding its implementation.

Google is reportedly considering the integration of this feature within YouTube Premium, priced at $16 per month. This move would complement the current benefits of the subscription, namely ad-free music playback and ad-free video streaming. It's worth noting that this initiative wouldn't be entirely novel, given that competitors like Spotify have already established partnerships with audiobook providers to enhance user experience.

While the concept isn't entirely foreign, as Google Play Books already features a dedicated YouTube channel for audiobook previews, the proposed integration would streamline the process of connecting these two services. Additionally, YouTube's diversification efforts, such as the introduction of Shorts to compete with platforms like TikTok, demonstrate the company's willingness to expand beyond its primary video content.

However, the YouTube Music app might prove to be a more suitable platform for introducing audiobooks, rather than the main video hub.

The potential inclusion of audiobooks in YouTube Premium sparks the question: would this feature be appealing to users?