Spotify aims to “revolutionise” the audiobook space with Findaway acquisition
Audiobook fans can expect titles from established publishers and independent authors.
Image: Marco Di Benedetto / Alamy Stock Photo
Spotify has announced its acquisition of audiobook platform Findaway, in a bid to further diversify its content.
The acquisition is expected to boost Spotify’s presence in the audiobook space. The streaming giant previously forayed into audiobooks through just a few titles, including a free audiobook version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone narrated by celebrities such as Daniel Radcliffe, David Beckham and more.
The acquisition is expected to “accelerate the addition of an audiobook catalogue onto the platform,” according to Nir Zicherman, Head Of Audiobooks at Spotify, who told The Verge that users will be able to “effectively get all of the audio content that they want all on one platform.”
In a press release, Spotify also claimed that the move will “revolutionise the audiobook space as we did with music and podcasts.”
“We plan to build on Findaway’s significant innovation in the space, and we’re going to supercharge its growth, bringing everything Spotify knows around personalisation and discovery while also innovating on format, delivery, creator tools, and more,” the post read.
Although the specifics of Findaway’s integration are not yet detailed, audiobooks are expected to be delivered through the Spotify app to subscribers of the streaming service.
Findaway comprises several businesses and owns a catalogue of over 325,000 audiobook titles in more than 80 languages. Aside from distributing those titles to various digital platforms, the company also offers audiobook creation services through Findaway Voices, which links authors with narrators for their books.
