Spotify expands – Spotify is launching audiobooks in over 180 markets, targeting 750 million users as it ramps up competition with established industry giants.
The notification hit users across the globe this Wednesday. marking a quiet but massive shift in how Spotify intends to dominate the audio landscape. By expanding its audiobook library to more than 180 markets—spanning Europe. the Americas. the Caribbean. the Middle East. Africa. and Asia—the platform is bringing its service to more than 750 million users. The rollout began immediately and is expected to continue throughout the coming months.
For years. the experience was siloed. limited to English-speaking regions like the U.S. U.K. Ireland. Australia. and New Zealand. alongside Germany. Now, the platform is surfacing a library of over 350,000 titles, boasting a total collection that spans more than 120 languages. Spain alone is receiving a dedicated catalog of over 45. 000 titles in the Spanish language. supported by partnerships with more than 300 publishers worldwide. including heavyweights like Planeta and Mondadori.
The math behind the expansion is clear. Over the last year, monthly listeners of audiobooks grew by 40%, while total listening hours ticked upward by 30%. With more than 1 million subscribers already signed up for the Audiobook+ tier. the segment has generated over 100 million in annual recurring revenue. The company is leaning into this momentum, adding an Audiobook+ add-on for student plans in select regions this November.
Access is tiered based on location and commitment. Premium subscribers in countries like Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Chile, Norway, and Peru now gain 12 hours of monthly listening time. For those seeking more, an Audiobook+ standalone subscription provides a 15-hour allowance, with the option to purchase individual titles directly.
Tech innovation is tethered to the growth. Since February. 1 million users per month have used the “Page Match” feature. which allows readers to scan a physical book page to find the corresponding spot in the audio file. Authors are also getting new tools; an AI-powered model. built in partnership with ElevenLabs. now helps turn written manuscripts into audiobooks. For those still attached to the tactile experience, the company is experimenting with physical book sales in the U.S. and U.K. alongside its digital charts designed for title discovery.
Spotify audiobooks global expansion tech news digital streaming Audiobook+ ElevenLabs