Spotify Expands Audiobook Access to Over 180 Global Markets

Global Audiobook Rollout

Spotify announced the expansion of its audiobook service to over 180 markets globally, including regions across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. This rollout began on Wednesday and will continue over the coming months, making audiobooks available to more than 750 million users. Previously, audiobooks were primarily offered in English-speaking markets and Germany.

Content and Language Availability

The platform now offers over 350,000 titles for its new markets, with the collection increasing to include more than 120 languages. For example, users in Spain will have access to over 45,000 titles in Spanish. Spotify is collaborating with over 300 publishers globally, including Planeta and Mondadori, to enhance the title selection.

Subscription Models

Premium subscribers in eligible countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Chile, Norway, and Peru can access 12 hours of audiobooks. Users worldwide also have the option to purchase an Audiobook+ standalone subscription, which provides 15 hours of listening allowance, or buy individual titles directly. An Audiobook+ add-on for student plans will be introduced in select regions in November.

Recent Feature Developments and Growth

Since its launch last year, Audiobook+ has acquired over 1 million subscribers and generated over 100 million in annual recurring revenue. Spotify also introduced a "Page Match" feature in February, allowing users to synchronize physical books with audiobooks; this feature is used by 1 million people monthly. Over the past year, monthly audiobook listeners increased by 40%, and listening hours grew by 30%.

This year, Spotify launched Audiobook Charts for title discovery and an AI-powered tool, in partnership with ElevenLabs, to assist authors in converting books to audiobooks. The company has also been experimenting with physical book sales through its audiobook platform in markets like the U.S. and U.K.