Audiobooks have made their way to Spotify Premium in the United States, a little more than a month after the service was made available in the UK and Australia. Spotify’s update includes 15 hours of audiobook listening each month from a selection of more than 200,000 titles.
As of November 8, subscribers will notice audiobooks labeled as “Included in Premium.” The allotted 15 hours per month equates to approximately two average-length audiobooks, with an option to purchase additional hours in 10-hour increments for $12.99.
This comes as audiobooks have become one of the biggest arms races in streaming audio. A consumer survey conducted by Spotify, including over 1,000 American participants, revealed that Gen Z and millennials are at the forefront of the audiobook trend, with a significant 72% of individuals aged 18-to-34 engaged in audiobook listening. Additionally, 41% favored audiobooks for their cognitive advantages, such as enhancing memory and mental activity.
Amazon has enjoyed the largest share of the medium after purchasing Audible in 2008, but as music streamers seek more subscribers from spoken word content, they are moving into the space. Spotify’s release comes on the same day that SiriusXM teased an upcoming collaboration with Audible in the company’s Next Generation preview.
Spotify’s audiobook additions haven’t come without controversy overseas. The Society of Authors, a UK writers’ union, voiced concern that authors might face financial challenges since audiobook streaming could hurt physical book sales. On the other hand, many publishing houses are excited about the chance to get their books in front of Spotify’s hundreds of millions of subscribers.
