Spotify Technology SA SPOT introduced a new feature for its Premium subscribers on Tuesday, offering access to up to 15 hours of audiobooks each month from a wide selection of titles, including popular works such as Elon Musk’s biography written by Walter Isaacson and books by Stephen King, including “Holly.”.
What Happened: Initially launched in the U.S. in September 2022, Spotify’s audiobook catalog boasted 300,000 titles. However, only half of these titles are included in the Premium subscription.
The new service will launch in the U.K. and Australia starting Wednesday, with a U.S. launch scheduled later this year (during winter), followed by additional markets.
See Also: Elon Musk Wowed By Spotify’s Latest Podcast Translation Feature, Developed With OpenAI’s Help
“For those super audiophiles who use up their 15 hours before their monthly billing cycles refresh, you can purchase a 10-hour top-up to finish that series,” according to the platform.
Spotify also plans to provide editorial recommendations and personalized suggestions for audiobooks. Users can now also enjoy audiobooks through the app instead of purchasing them externally and navigating around app store restrictions.
How To Find An Audiobook On Spotify Premium
Simply enter the title into the search bar and then press play on the initial chapter. Users can also listen to a preview to ensure it aligns with their preferences. Additionally, users can explore audiobook recommendations via the Home feed or venture into the audiobook hub.
Why It’s Important: Spotify’s new audiobook model takes a different path than industry giant Audible, owned by Amazon Inc. AMZN.
Audible uses a credit system, where users pay a standard $14.95 monthly to get one credit, and each audiobook costs one credit, reported The Verge.
Spotify, on the other hand, offers access to a library of 150,000 audiobooks to its users, allowing them to try as many as they want, but with a limit of 15 hours of listening included. Users can buy an extra 10 hours of listening for $10.99.
The 15-hour limit might not suit those who enjoy longer books like epic novels or extensive biographies.
Additionally, while Audible offers access to its entire library for standard subscribers, Spotify’s new plan covers approximately 70% of bestsellers, leaving out some top titles. These exclusions might include premium titles but can still be purchased separately.
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