Spotify Turns Up the Audible Volume—Now You Can Bundle Audiobooks & Family
So, big news for anyone who’s ever dreamt of being “just a minute away from the next chapter.” Spotify has just added a brand‑new Audiobooks+ plan for the US, costing just $11.99 a month. What is it, you ask? Think of it as a monthly membership that gives you 15 extra hours of audiobooks—and, for the first time ever, it’s open to your entire family or your Duo buddies.
What’s All the Fuss About?
- Before this move, only the person holding the Spotify card could sip on audiobooks. The rest of the household had to wait.
- The plan allows a household member on a Family or Duo plan to add 15 hours of listening each month on top of the normal Premium allowance.
- For the studiously voracious, this isn’t a budget catch but a way to keep the stories flowing.
How Does It Fit into the Existing Spotify World?
With Spotify Premium, you already get 15 hours of audiobook listening per month—plus you can buy more ticks if you’re a “whoops‑there‑was‑more‑to‑hear” kind of person. The Audiobooks+ plan is essentially a subscription add‑on: you’re paying for those 15 hours recurring every month. It’s a neat little upgrade that keeps the extra hours coming, like a steady high‑quality coffee supply for your ears.
Who Gets the New Bonus?
Beyond the cardholder, the new “Audiobooks+ for Plan Members” feature opens the library up to all other family or duo participants – the first time anyone outside the main account can actually dive into Spotify’s vast audiobook catalog. It’s a win for those of us who love to binge‑read—or, well, binge‑listen—without hitting a “family share limit.
Where Else Is This Happening?
- The rollout isn’t restricted to the US ribbon; your tunes are rolling out in many countries already.
- It’s especially available in Ireland, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and a slew of European spots — Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Long story short: if you’ve been catching the “good vibes” on your Spotify and you’re itching for more stories on the go, this new plan is a no‑brainer. Grab it, share it, and enjoy the side‑by‑side adventure of music and books with your loved ones. Happy listening, folks!
Spotify’s New Book‑ish Move: Audiobooks+ Goes Global
Why the hype matters
After a rough quarter of stunted revenue, Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek blames a failing ad market for the shortfall. Meanwhile, the company’s user base is still a bright‑spot – 696 million active users and 276 million paying subscribers, a growth of 11 % and 12 % respectively. The new Audiobooks+ subscription is their way to get a bigger slice from that loyal crowd.
What went wrong with family plans
Yep, folks were upset. The original family plan let only the card‑holder tap into audiobooks – no love‑birds, no siblings, no kids. HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray publicly warned Spotify in December that they’d tweak the “technical glitch.” Fast‑forward to last month: Spotify finally opened up audiobook streaming to all book‑ish family members in select markets outside the U.S.
How Spotify feels about the rollout
“We’re listening, and we’ve fixed it,” the company said, launching Audiobooks+ in several European, Asian, and Australian territories. Even though Spotify never disclosed how many of its Premium users actually switch to books, it announced that audiobook hours jumped >35 % YoY in the U.K., Australia, and the U.S. All before the add‑on even hit the market.
The price‑pushing side‑kick
- The platform nudges subscription fees up from €10.99 to €11.99 across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia‑Pacific.
- “We’re experimenting with other options, like direct book sales,” Spotify teased, hinting at future twists for book lovers.
What’s next?
For the adventurous, Spotify isn’t just adding a new subscription line – they’re testing new ways to monetize the next-gen library. Get ready for some new curves in the book‑market, as they explore direct sales and other clever perks.