Spotify has begun rolling out a number of classic audiobooks read by famous names, in the latest move to make the platform the ultimate destination for all things audio.
Audiobooks Come to Spotify
Though originally a streaming service for music, over the years Spotify has expanded to include other audio content like podcasts. The company has not only created its own podcasts, but also bought up large networks to try and capture the existing audience.
While Spotify’s podcast game still has some way to go, it isn’t resting on its laurels and is now putting its foot down in another audio arena: audiobooks.
Today, as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Spotify has released nine original and exclusive audiobooks.
All of these are from public domain works, suggesting that Spotify is testing the water before potentially expanding further. The company recruited for people in audiobook roles over the summer of 2020.
Some of the works offer are:
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; read by YouTube star David Dobrik
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave; read by actor Forest Whitaker
- Persuasion by Jane Austen; read by actress and musician Cynthia Erivo
- The Awakening by read by Kate Chopin; read by actress Hilary Swank
Alongside each audiobook, Harvard professor Glenda Carpio explores the themes of each story for a modern audience, in a series called Sitting With the Classics on Spotify.
All of this is free globally for every Spotify user, though Premium account holders will of course not hear any ads.
For now, Spotify is only advertising the audiobooks to English-speaking countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. These markets should see the audiobooks visible on Spotify’s Home tab.
However, other countries can still access the audiobooks, they just need to search for them within the app.
Are Audiobooks New for Spotify?
Strictly speaking, audiobooks aren’t a new concern for Spotify. Last year, in conjunction with Pottermore, the first Harry Potter book was narrated by well-known stars like Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton.
Technically, the audiobooks are listed on Spotify as podcasts. Each chapter represents an episode and you can “follow” an audiobook like you would a podcast. Perhaps in the future we’ll see audiobooks get a dedicated section on Spotify.
In 2019, the audiobook industry was worth $2.7 billion in the US alone, so there’s clearly plenty of potential for Spotify to bring home the bacon.