Audio book lovers on Spotify can now enjoy multiple subscription options for their listening pleasure
Spotify Introduces Audiobooks+ Subscription, Expands Access for Premium Users
Streaming giant Spotify has launched a new add-on subscription service called Audiobooks+, offering Premium users additional hours of audiobook listening each month. This move is part of Spotify's goal to help publishers, authors, and the book industry grow and reach new listeners.
The Audiobooks+ subscription is available to Premium Individual subscribers and Family and Duo plan managers, providing an extra 15 hours of listening each month. This effectively doubles the audiobook listening time to 30 hours monthly for Premium subscribers who opt for the additional fee, approximately $12 per month in the US.
For users on Family and Duo plans, the Audiobooks+ add-on enables not only the plan manager but also other plan members to access these extra audiobook hours individually. Plan members can request the Audiobooks+ add-on from the plan manager for $12/month, giving them 15 hours of audiobook listening per month each. Users can also buy a one-time 10-hour top-up for $13 if they want to finish a book after exceeding their monthly quota.
The audiobook catalog on Spotify features over 250,000 titles, including partnerships with publishers like Bloomsbury. The company is positioning Audiobooks+ as a flexible option for users who want more audiobook listening time, competing with services like Audible and Kindle. Spotify also offers an audiobook-only subscription for about $10 per month for 15 hours of listening, which may be cheaper for some users than repeatedly buying top-ups.
In the US, the rollout of Audiobooks+ notably includes the option for Family plan members to access audiobooks, previously only available to individual and some duo members. Now, each family member in the US can listen to up to 15 hours of audiobooks monthly, with the option to add Audiobooks+ for additional hours, improving accessibility within households.
Spotify entered the audiobook market in 2022 through the acquisition of Findaway, and Michael Kozlowski, a long-time writer about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers, resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company plans to expand these audiobook subscription features further to other countries beyond current markets.
Here's a summary of the subscription options:
| Subscription Type | Included Audiobook Hours | Extra Cost (approx.) | Availability | Key Features for US Users | |-------------------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | Spotify Premium (Individual) | 15 hours | Included in Premium | Global | Base 15 listening hours per month | | Audiobooks+ (Add-on for Premium) | +15 hours (total 30) | $12/month | US, Europe, Australasia | Adds 15 extra hours to individual, family, and duo members | | Audiobooks+ for Plan Members | +15 hours per member | $12/month per member | US, select global markets | Family/Duo members besides plan owner can access audiobooks individually | | One-time Top-up | +10 hours | $13 one-time | US and others | Top up hours without committing to subscription add-on|
With these new offerings, Premium users worldwide, including those in the US, can flexibly increase their audiobook access by adding Audiobooks+, while Family plan members now have individual audiobook allowances, marking a significant enhancement in the US service.
- Michael Kozlowski, a resident of Vancouver, Canada, who writes about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers, might find the new add-on subscription service, Audiobooks+, introduced by Spotify on technology and lifestyle platforms intriguing, given its competitive positioning against services like Audible and Kindle.
- As Spotify expands its audiobook offerings, tech enthusiasts and book lovers might be drawn towards the lifestyle benefits of Audiobooks+, choosing between multiple subscription options including the audiobook-only plan, one-time top-ups, or the Audiobooks+ add-on, ultimately enhancing their entertainment experiences.
