Spotify Invests $1M+ in Non-English Audiobooks - Expansion News

Spotify's Investment in Non-English Audiobook Production

Spotify revealed on Friday its intention to allocate €1 million – equivalent to roughly $1.1 million – towards expanding audiobook creation in languages beyond English. This initiative will initially focus on supporting production in French and Dutch.

Expanding Audiobook Availability

This investment demonstrates Spotify’s strong desire to increase the number of non-English audiobooks available on its platform. The company aims to effectively challenge established audiobook providers, such as Audible, within the expansive $8.7 billion global audiobook market.

Currently, the uptake of audiobooks has been notably slower in France and the Netherlands. Consequently, these two languages have been prioritized for this initial investment phase.

Current Audiobook Landscape in France and the Netherlands

Data from Spotify indicates a significant disparity in audiobook availability in France. Less than 3% of books published in French are currently offered in audio format. Specifically, France has approximately 20,000 audiobooks available, contrasted with around 750,000 physical book titles.

The situation in the Netherlands is similar, with around 15,000 Dutch audiobooks accessible, compared to a physical book collection of 209,000 titles.

Recent Audiobook Service Launch

Spotify introduced its audiobook service in France and the Benelux region in October of the previous year.

Addressing Production Cost Barriers

Spotify attributes the limited adoption of audiobooks to the substantial costs associated with production. These high costs can discourage publishers from converting their existing written content into audio formats.

AI Narration and Industry Concerns

While Spotify stresses its dedication to utilizing professional human narrators, the company has also collaborated with ElevenLabs. This partnership aims to provide a more affordable option, encouraging authors to publish content narrated using artificial intelligence.

However, the integration of AI narration has sparked debate and raised concerns among members of the publishing industry.

Key Takeaways

• Spotify is investing €1 million ($1.1 million) in non-English audiobook production.
• The initial focus is on French and Dutch languages due to lower adoption rates.
• High production costs are a key barrier to audiobook availability.
• Spotify is exploring AI narration as a cost-effective solution, but it has faced industry criticism.