Subj : Spotify could soon take on Audible with free audiobooks for subsc To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Sep 08 2023 20:45:03 Spotify could soon take on Audible with free audiobooks for subscribers Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2023 19:38:31 +0000 Description: Spotify is planning to launch a new pilot program for audiobooks but only for a limited time. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Spotify is apparently seeking to diversify its content with a new pilot program where subscribers can pick up free audiobooks. As revealed by The Wall Street Journal , the streaming platform is currently working with some of the largest publishers in the US'', hashing out the details of how itll all work. The report states users will be able to listen to a maximum of 20 hours of content a month at no extra cost. Its unknown what books will be present at launch as the list is still being finalized, although its "expected to be broad. The platform first began offering audiobooks back in September 2022 , giving users access to a library of over 300,000 titles from horror writer Stephen King to journalist Malcolm Gladwell. Since then, that number has grown to over 350,000 . Right now, audiobooks on the service operate on a pay-per-download basis meaning youll have to buy each title on top of having a subscription. If this pilot program garners enough interest, this type of content could become a major pillar on Spotify alongside music. Availability The program will, according to the report, only be available for a limited time. The company apparently wants to first gauge customer interest before committing to anything. Its unknown where this test will launch. However, the Wall Street Journal claims the free audiobooks will roll out over time to a group of English-speaking countries. More specifically, the United States, Canada, Australia, as well as the United Kingdom. It is worth mentioning Spotify audiobooks are available in Ireland and New Zealand too, but the Wall Street Journal report doesnt mention whether or not the two nations will receive the free content. We reached out to Spotify, asking if their latest endeavor will roll out to other countries. This story will be updated at a later time. Analysis: Misplaced priorities As the Wall Street Journal points out, audiobooks, like podcasts, represent a burgeoning market; one thats popular among listeners. Of course, this could require the platform to refocus its resources away from music streaming. Embracing non-music content runs the risk of alienating users if the recent price hike wasnt enough. But is the streaming giant willing to take on other titans like Audible at their own game? Audible offers a 30-day free trial where people can receive a ton of goodies: a free audiobook token, unlimited access to original content, plus offline access to any [on-device] titles. Spotify, on the other hand, has yet to deliver on the long-promised Hi-Res/Supremium tier to music fans. One might think the service should get its priorities sorted out first before expanding. Be sure to check out TechRadars list of the best music streaming services for 2023 . You might also like Spotify HiFi is never coming, and that's just fine Spotify white noise podcasters can make $18k a month and Spotify may want out 7 essential new albums to stream on Spotify, Apple Music and more ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/streaming/spotify-could-soon-take-on-audible-with-fr ee-audiobooks-for-subscribers --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .