Brief
Spotify expands audiobook service to more than 180 markets
The rollout begins today and will continue through the end of 2026, reaching 750 million users worldwide.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Spotify said on Wednesday that it is extending its audiobook offering from 22 markets to more than 180 worldwide, a rollout that begins today and will continue through the end of 2026.
What happened
The company announced the expansion at the Frankfurt Book Fair, noting that the new catalogue will include titles in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Polish and other languages, bringing the total number of supported languages to over 120. Spotify said the move will make audiobooks available to more than 750 million users, with a library of over 350,000 titles for the newly added markets and over 800,000 titles overall.
What the reports add
TechCrunch reported that the expansion covers regions across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and that Spotify is working with more than 300 publishers such as Planeta and Mondadori. The Hollywood Reporter added that the service will be offered in Spain with more than 45,000 Spanish‑language titles, and that Spotify’s Audiobook+ subscription provides a 15‑hour monthly allowance.
What was said
Spotify’s spokesperson told TechCrunch that “more than 750 million users will be able to access audiobooks, allowing us to better compete with both music streaming providers and audiobook apps like Audible.” The Hollywood Reporter quoted the same spokesperson saying, “Books change how we see the world, and the people in it.”
How it came about
Spotify first launched individual audiobook purchases in the United States in September 2022 and added a 15‑hour premium listening option in November 2023. The company has been expanding its non‑music offerings, including fitness and AI‑generated content, as part of a broader strategy to increase user stickiness. Earlier this year, Spotify experienced a simultaneous outage with Anthropic’s Claude service, which was covered by Felo News (Spotify‑Claude outage).
Key facts
- Spotify is expanding its audiobook service to more than 180 markets. (techcrunch.com)
- The rollout begins today and will continue through the end of 2026. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Spotify’s catalogue will include over 350,000 titles for the new markets and over 800,000 titles overall. (techcrunch.com)
- Audiobook+ subscription offers a 15‑hour monthly allowance. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- More than 300 publishers, including Planeta and Mondadori, are involved. (techcrunch.com)
Where accounts differ
- Number of titles in the catalogue: more than 350,000 titles for new markets (techcrunch.com); more than 800,000 titles in the catalog (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Exact count of markets: over 180 markets (techcrunch.com); more than 180 markets (hollywoodreporter.com)
