Spotify Launches Narrated Magazine Articles for Audiobook Users
- tech360.tv
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Spotify is introducing more than 650 long-form magazine articles in the English language for its audiobook users. The Swedish streaming giant is rolling out these narrated articles from top publications including Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, Vogue, Variety, and Vanity Fair.
The curated collection of narrated articles is produced by the in-house Spotify Audiobooks team. Each article in the collection will be under two hours in length.
Premium subscribers can access these articles as part of their monthly audiobooks allowance. Free users have the option to purchase individual articles for USD 1.99 each.
Licensing Lead at Spotify Audiobooks Colleen Prendergast said the shorter form content helps build healthy listening habits and grows engagement with books over time.
The company is bringing in more content to boost user engagement. The move helps Spotify better compete with artificial intelligence music startups such as Udio and Suno, as well as larger podcast rivals including YouTube and Netflix.
Spotify Co-CEO Alex Norstrom said recently that the company has already captured roughly 20% of the audiobooks market in the United States. Since launching Audiobooks just over two years ago, Spotify has expanded the offering into 22 markets.
In separate developments, Spotify announced a deal with Universal Music Group. The partnership lets subscribers create artificial intelligence-generated covers and remixes of tracks by some of the artists on the label.
Spotify also unveiled Reserved through a partnership with Live Nation Entertainment. The program lets eligible premium subscribers buy up to two tickets to concerts before they are offered to the general public for sale.
Spotify has added over 650 narrated magazine articles from publications like Vogue and Rolling Stone to its platform.
Premium subscribers can use their monthly audiobook allowance for the articles, while free users can buy them for USD 1.99 each.
The new content aims to increase user engagement and compete with rival podcast and artificial intelligence music platforms.
Source: REUTERS
