Spotify Expands Audiobooks to 180+ Markets, Reaching 750 Million Users

Spotify announced Wednesday it is expanding audiobook access to more than 180 markets across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, a rollout beginning today and continuing over coming months. The move gives over 750 million users access to audiobooks and intensifies competition with music streamers and apps like Audible. Audiobooks were previously limited mainly to the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Germany. Spotify said it offers more than 350,000 titles in the new markets across over 120 languages, including 45,000 Spanish-language titles in Spain, and works with over 300 publishers including Planeta and Mondadori. Premium subscribers get 12 hours of audiobook listening in eligible countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Chile, Norway and Peru. Audiobook+ standalone subscriptions offer a 15-hour allowance, and individual titles can be purchased directly. A student-plan add-on launches in select regions in November. Spotify said Audiobook+ has surpassed 1 million subscribers and over $100 million in annual recurring revenue since launching last year. Monthly audiobook listeners grew 40% and listening hours rose 30% over the past year, it added.