Audio streaming platform Spotify plans to test a free audiobook program for its paid subscribers in the coming months, as part of its push to become a major provider of this type of content.
The information was revealed by The Wall Street Journal. The company is working with some of the largest publishers in the United States on a pilot program that will allow subscribers to listen to up to 20 hours of audiobooks per month at no additional cost, sources told the WSJ. Details are still being worked out, but the company plans to offer the program for a limited time to gauge customer interest in the product.
Spotify’s interest in audiobooks
How this deal will work on Spotify
The company has discussed a number of compensation models for publishers, including payments based on the time users spend listening to books.
The test will likely be rolled out gradually in a group of English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. There is no information on expansion into other languages, including Portuguese. The range of titles available through the program is expected to be broad, but is still being defined.
Spotify entered the audiobook business a year ago, initially offering a catalog of more than 300,000 titles from independent authors and major publishers, including works by horror writer Stephen King, journalist Malcolm Gladwell and novelist Abby Jimenez for purchase. The books were available on a pay-per-download model, similar to services offered by Apple and Google.
CEO Daniel Ek said Apple’s App Store policies have hindered the launch of Spotify’s audiobook offerings. Shortly after last year’s announcement, Spotify encouraged users to make purchases through a web browser rather than within the app.
While this is a more complicated user experience, the change was intended to prevent Apple from charging up to 30% commission for downloads. Spotify has been battling Apple for years over its in-app purchase policies.
In the new trial program, subscribers will be able to access free audiobooks directly in the app.
In 2021, Spotify announced the acquisition of global audiobook distributor Findaway. Earlier that year, it reached a deal with audiobook streaming service Storytel to make the company’s library available on Spotify to subscribers who linked their accounts.
The post Spotify will offer free audiobooks in testing with subscribers appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
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