Spotify is expanding its audiobook portfolio after striking a deal with Bloomsbury, a global publishing house with offices in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and India. This will add over 1,000 new titles to its library, giving subscribers more listening choices.
More Books and Voices to Listen To
“As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of Audiobook in Premium, there’s no better way to build on our momentum than with the addition Bloomsbury’s beloved library,” said Duncan Bruce, Director of Audiobook Partnerships and Licensing at Spotify. “This partnership allows us to expand our author line-up and give listeners an even wider array of titles to enjoy, bringing us another step forward in our goal of reimagining the audiobook experience.”
This new addition comes shortly after the streaming platform introduced several new audiobook features to make listening more engaging and convenient. Spotify announced this service in 2022, giving Premium users 15 free hours of audiobook listening monthly. When you use up that time, you purchase a 10-hour top-up to let you start a new one (or finish the book you started if you’re not done yet).
You could also listen to Spotify audiobooks for free, although your options would be limited to public domain work. But aside from that, both Free and Premium users could also purchase individual audiobooks, allowing you to listen to titles you specifically like without needing to shell out for a monthly subscription.
The partnership between Spotify and Bloomsbury will add several books from acclaimed authors Sarah J. Maas, Alan Moore, and more. These include several fiction titles for kids and adults, including the fantasy book Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, the award-winning Cuddy by Benjamin Myers, IPG Audiobook of the Year Ghosts, and Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, which won Children’s Book of the Year.
There are also selections from non-fiction works, including Want, Submitted by Anonymous, Collected by Gillian Andersoni, as well as other works by Peter Frankopan, Dan Jones, and more. Aside from these literary works, Spotify also enlisted the voices from top-billed Hollywood talent. Some of your favorite books will be narrated by Meryl. Streep, Emilia Clarke, Adjoa Andoh, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
“We are passionate about bringing the creative talents of our authors and narrators to as many listeners as possible, through our mission to inform, educate, entertain, and inspire readers of all ages and backgrounds,” said Sam Halstead, Director of Audio at Bloomsbury. “We feel confident that this partnership will help to introduce a whole new generation of listeners to audiobooks for years to come.”
