Spotify now sells physical books
Source: Mashable Tech
Spotify launches physical book sales
Spotify is now a physical book store. On Wednesday, the primarily music‑streaming company announced the launch of printed book sales in the U.S. and UK. In these two markets, Spotify users can order physical books through the Android version of the app, with iOS support slated to begin next week.
Spotify partnered with Bookshop.org for the physical book sales. Bookshop.org is an online marketplace that focuses on local, independent bookstores, offering both physical books and e‑books.
Background on audiobooks
Spotify launched audiobooks in September 2022 in the U.S., and has since expanded its catalog and availability to the UK, Canada, Australia, and several European countries. The service is now available in 22 markets with a catalog of roughly 700,000 titles.
Why physical books?
Owen Smith, Spotify’s Global Head of Audiobooks, explained the move:
“We believe the future of reading or listening needs to be flexible and fit more seamlessly into people’s lives. 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.”
He first shared this perspective when the feature was announced in February.
Additional feature updates
- Page Match expansion – The Page Match feature, which lets listeners move between e‑books, physical books, and audiobooks, is now available in 30 additional languages.
- Audiobook Recaps – Expanded on Android.
- Audiobook Charts – Launched in Germany, plus a dedicated Audiobook Chart for kids in the U.S. and the UK.