Spotify announced plans to significantly expand its audiobook offering, increasing access from 22 markets to more than 180 by the end of 2026. This initiative aims to reach over 750 million potential listeners, integrating audiobooks alongside its established music and podcast services.
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The expansion will introduce more than 350,000 audiobook titles across various languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Polish. Spotify described its audiobook partnerships as non-exclusive, emphasizing its role as a complementary platform for readers rather than a replacement for existing publishers and distributors.
Access to audiobooks will differ by region. Premium subscribers in countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Poland will receive 12 hours of audiobook listening each month. The new Audiobooks+ feature will offer additional listening time, while users can also purchase individual titles to keep.
Spotify is customizing its audiobook services for local markets and integrating them into its familiar audio environment. Alongside this expansion, Spotify updated its Page Match tool, which allows users to transition easily between print, ebooks, and audiobooks by scanning ISBN barcodes and using page numbers to track their progress. Since its launch in February, Page Match has been used by over one million readers in more than 30 languages.
Additionally, Audiobooks+ will be available to student plans in Ireland, Belgium, Austria, and Finland starting in November. The add-on currently boasts over one million subscribers and generates over $100 million in annual recurring revenue. Monthly audiobook listeners have surged by nearly 40% in the past year, with listening hours rising by more than 30%.
This move marks Spotify's ongoing evolution from a music service to a multifaceted audio platform, enhancing its offerings for younger audiences and providing more engagement opportunities for publishers and authors.