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Spotify Turns a New Page: From Podcasts to Physical Books and Seamless Reading
Los Angeles, CA – Following significant expansion into the podcast realm, audio streaming giant Spotify is now setting its sights on the world of audiobooks, aiming to bridge the gap between digital listening and traditional reading. The Sweden-based company, with a notable presence in L.A.’s Arts District, announced Thursday its focus on enhancing online book discovery and even facilitating physical book ownership.
At the forefront of this new initiative is a groundbreaking technology called “Page Match.” This innovative feature allows users to seamlessly transition between reading a physical book and listening to its audiobook counterpart with a simple camera scan of the page.
Whether you’re switching from paper to audio or vice-versa, Page Match will recognize your exact spot in the book and resume playback or highlight the corresponding text. This feature is slated for a full rollout by the end of the month.
“We believe the future of reading or listening needs to be flexible and fit more seamlessly into people’s lives,” stated Owen Smith, Spotify’s global head of audiobooks, in a recent news release. “Now we’re extending Spotify’s discovery and engagement strengths across both audio and physical formats, so authors can build deeper connections with their audiences and books can follow readers wherever they go.”
Further cementing its commitment to the literary world, Spotify has partnered with Bookshop.org to enable users in the U.S. and the U.K. to purchase physical books directly through the platform starting this spring. This collaboration ensures that sales are routed to independent bookstores, with Bookshop.org handling pricing, inventory, and order fulfillment.
Andy Hunter, CEO of Bookshop.org, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting, “We are excited to see the impact Spotify’s scale will have for local bookstores. By meeting readers where they are and linking to Bookshop.org, Spotify is financially supporting indie booksellers with each purchase.”
Founded in 2006, Spotify has grown to become the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, offering access to over 100 million tracks, podcasts, and audiobooks across more than 180 markets. Audiobooks were first introduced to the platform in 2022, and their demand has since made Spotify “a real growth engine for the publishing industry,” according to Smith.
This pivot to deeper audiobook integration and physical book sales marks another strategic move for Spotify as it continues to diversify beyond music. The company has previously invested heavily in its podcasting division, including opening a new recording studio in Hollywood and expanding creator monetization programs. These new initiatives, along with recent premium price increases, underscore Spotify’s ongoing efforts to expand its reach and offerings in the competitive audio entertainment landscape.