Premium Spotify Users in UK and Australia Gain Access to 15 Hours of Audiobooks
As part of its expansion efforts in the UK and Australia, Spotify Technology SA is offering 15 hours of free audiobook listening per month to its premium subscribers.
The bid, which Bloomberg News previously reported was in the works, will begin on Tuesday. US subscribers get free lessons this winter.
More than 150,000 titles from five major book publishers are included. Users can purchase 10 additional hours for $11 per month in the US or £10 in the UK. Of the family package members, only the main account holder gets the included hours. Free users can only purchase individual audiobooks a la carte.
Spotify’s main audiobook competitor, Amazon.com Inc.’s Audible, offers one bestseller or new release per month in addition to additional titles and podcasts for $15 a month. Spotify says its selection offers more than 70 percent of the best-selling audiobooks.
Spotify made its intentions clear when it decided to buy audiobook distributor Findaway last year. Soon after, it started offering books for sale on its app.
“Spotify’s goal is to be the destination for all sound, both for listeners and creators,” said Spotify co-chairman Gustav Söderström in a press release announcing the deal.
Spotify has been unable to sell individual audiobooks through Apple Inc. due to a disagreement with the company.
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