Spotify Introduces AI Audiobook Creation Tool Powered by ElevenLabs

Authors using this AI tool will not be subject to exclusive contracts, allowing them to distribute their audiobooks on other platforms as well. This development builds upon Spotify's existing partnership with ElevenLabs, where authors could already submit audiobooks generated on ElevenLabs' platform.

Spotify previously collaborated with Google Play Books to enhance digitally narrated content but appears to be shifting towards more advanced voice models from ElevenLabs, which produce more expressive and human-like audio. ElevenLabs had launched its own self-publishing platform for authors in 2025.

Additionally, Spotify is expanding its “Spotify for Authors” platform to support ten new languages, including French, Canadian French, German, Dutch, Latin American Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, Danish, and Norwegian.

The company is also enhancing its Audiobook+ subscription plans to increase listening limits and introduce new options for students and families, though specific pricing details have not been shared yet. Spotify has reported over one million Audiobook+ subscriptions and anticipates generating $100 million in annual recurring revenue for the service.

At the event, Spotify revealed a new feature that allows users to ask questions in natural language for audiobook discovery. This summer, Spotify will expand its prompt-based playlist feature to include audiobooks alongside podcasts and music.

Spotify has significantly increased its focus on the audiobook segment in recent years, building a catalog of 700,000 titles, launching the program in international markets, investing in non-English titles, enabling in-app purchases, and creating audiobook charts. Recent initiatives have led to a reported 60% year-on-year increase in listening hours, with more than half of its audiobook listeners having signed up within the last year.