Spotify to offer free audiobook trial to subscribers

Spotify is planning to offer US subscribers a free audiobook trial in the coming months, reports the Wall Street Journal.

According to the report, Spotify is working with large US publishers on the pilot program, which would allow subscribers to access up to 20 hours of listening time per month at no additional cost. Spotify is expected to offer the program for a limited time with the aim to gauge customer interest in audiobooks. Further details about the program, including the compensation model for publishers and when the test will roll out to other English-speaking countries, are still being finalised.

Spotify unveiled its US audiobook catalogue in September last year, with a list of more than 300,000 titles. According to the Wall Street Journal, Spotify executives are ‘eager to challenge incumbent audiobook platform Audible, and told some publishers that their participation would help break the Amazon.com-owned platform’s hold on the industry’.

Under the pilot program, subscribers will be able to access the free audiobooks directly in the app. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has said Apple’s App Store policies have hampered the rollout of Spotify’s audiobook offerings. Spotify directs users to make purchases through a web browser instead of inside the app, to keep Apple from taking up to a 30% commission for downloads.

Under the new test program, subscribers will be able to access the free audiobooks directly in the app.

Category: International news