Spotify expands audiobook access to 180 markets

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Spotify starts testing physical book sales

Spotify is expanding its audiobook service to more than 180 markets worldwide, giving more than 750 million users access to audiobooks as the company seeks to compete more strongly with music streaming services and dedicated audiobook platforms such as Audible.

According to TechCrunch, audiobooks were previously available mainly in English-speaking markets, including the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Germany.

Spotify said it has more than 350,000 audiobook titles for the new markets, with its collection now covering more than 120 languages. In Spain, users will have access to more than 45,000 Spanish-language titles.

The company is working with more than 300 publishers worldwide, including Planeta and Mondadori, to expand its catalogue across different markets.

In February, Spotify launched its Page Match feature, which allows users to scan a page of a physical book and find the corresponding point in the audiobook. The company said about 1 million people now use the feature each month.

Spotify said monthly audiobook listeners increased by 40% over the past year, while listening hours rose by 30%.

The company has also introduced Audiobook Charts to help users find popular titles and launched an AI-powered tool that allows authors to turn books into audiobooks using models from ElevenLabs.

Spotify has also started testing physical book sales through its audiobook platform in selected markets, including the US and UK, as it continues to expand its presence in the wider audio and publishing market.

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