Spotify announced on Wednesday that it is significantly broadening its audiobook availability to over 180 markets globally. The expansion encompasses regions across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, with the rollout commencing immediately and continuing over the coming months. This strategic move aims to unlock audiobook access for more than 750 million users, positioning the platform to better compete against both traditional music streaming rivals and dedicated audiobook services such as Audible.
Previously, the service was largely restricted to English-speaking nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, along with Germany. To support this wider release, Spotify has compiled a library exceeding 350,000 titles spanning over 120 languages. In Spain, for instance, users will gain access to more than 45,000 titles in Spanish.
The company is collaborating with over 300 publishers worldwide, including major houses like Planeta and Mondadori, to grow its catalog in diverse markets. Premium subscribers in eligible countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Chile, Norway, and Peru can listen to 12 hours of audiobooks. Alternatively, users globally can opt for the Audiobook+ standalone subscription, which provides a 15-hour allowance, or purchase individual titles directly.
Additionally, Spotify plans to introduce an Audiobook+ add-on for student plans in select regions starting in November. Since its launch last year, the Audiobook+ tier has attracted over 1 million subscribers and generated more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue for the platform.
Spotify has also integrated features to enhance the user experience, such as the “Page Match” tool launched in February. This feature allows users to scan a physical book page to locate the corresponding section in the audiobook; it has already seen monthly usage from one million people. Over the past year, monthly audiobook listeners on the platform grew by 40%, while total listening hours increased by 30%.
Other recent initiatives include the introduction of Audiobook Charts earlier this year to help users discover popular titles, and an AI-powered creation tool developed in partnership with ElevenLabs, enabling authors to convert their books into audiobooks. The company has also begun testing physical book sales through its audiobook platform in select markets like the U.S. and the U.K.
The Page Match feature sounds handy, but I mostly just want better prices for the premium tier. $100 million is a lot to ask for.
Audiobooks are growing so fast. I wonder if Audible will actually feel this pressure now that Spotify is everywhere?
Wait, did they mention any plans for African or Asian language titles beyond just translation? That seems like a huge gap.
Finally, this service isn’t locked away in just a handful of countries. Great news for listeners everywhere!