While Spotify users face yet another price hike, book lovers have some exciting developments to look forward to that could help soften the blow.
Spotify was announced several updates on its audiobook business on Thursday, notably its expansion into physical books. Users in the US and UK will soon be able to buy physical copies of their favorite audiobooks directly through the app, marking a major shift for the once-digital platform.
The company also introduced two features designed to make the audiobook experience smoother and more flexible, including a new tool called “Page mapping” that allows users to scan a page from a physical book to jump instantly to that point in the audiobook.
Additionally, “Audiobook Recaps”—a previously iOS-only feature—is coming to Android devices in the spring. This feature provides bite-sized recaps tailored to the last section users stopped listening to.
Spotify’s decision to sell physical books through its app positions it as a competitor to major booksellers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The company also recognizes that many readers still appreciate physical books, and by offering both print and digital formats, Spotify is trying to become a one-stop shop for book lovers.
Spotify has partnered with Bookshop.org in the new offering, an online marketplace that supports local, independent bookstores. This partnership is great news for independent booksellers, as every purchase made through Spotify will directly benefit local book communities. Spotify then earns an affiliate fee for the sales.
The ability to purchase physical books will launch this spring and will appear on the app’s audiobook pages as a button labeled “Add to your home shelf.” By clicking, users are taken to the Bookshop website, which manages pricing, inventory and shipping.
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To bridge the gap between formats, Spotify is also launching a feature called Page Match, which is currently available to premium subscribers and will roll out to all audiobook users by the end of February. The feature was originally spotted by Android Authority last month.
Spotify’s new Page Match feature allows users to scan a page from a physical or e-book using their phone’s camera. The tool analyzes the content of the page and directs users to the exact point of the audiobook. Powered by a combination of Spotify’s in-house and third-party image scanning and vision technologies.
When users want to switch to the audiobook, they can select the Scan to Listen button and click the Scan to Read button to return to the physical book, making it easy for users to pick up where they left off, whether they’re reading at home or switching to audio on the go.
Page Match is currently available for most English-language titles, with plans for future expansion. There are now more than 500,000 titles on the platform.
In the two years since Spotify first introduced audiobooks, the platform has seen significant growth. The company was mentioned In October the number of users listening to audiobooks increased by 36% over the past year and listening hours increased by 37%. Additionally, more than half of Spotify’s 281 million premium subscribers have engaged with an audiobook.
Spotify is expected to announce its fourth quarter earnings results on February 10.
