Spotify is expanding access to its audiobooks to more U.S. subscribers. The company announced the launch of its $11.99 per month Audiobooks+ plan, allowing subscribers or their household members on a Family or Duo plan to add 15 hours of audiobook listening each month on top of their base plan.
Though Spotify introduced its audiobooks service in the U.S. in 2022, household members on Duo and Family plans were previously excluded. The new offering now makes audiobooks available to all household members in the U.S. market for the first time.
Through Spotify Premium, subscribers already receive 15 hours of audiobook listening per month, with the option to purchase additional hours as needed. The Audiobooks+ plan provides recurring access to an extra 15 hours every month, supplementing the Premium plan’s existing allowance.
While this may be excessive for casual listeners, the U.S. rollout of Audiobooks+ also introduces a new feature called “Audiobooks+ for Plan Members,” enabling other members on a subscription plan to access Spotify’s audiobook catalog for the first time.
With this expansion, the U.S. joins several other markets with access to Audiobooks+, including Ireland, Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The announcement follows a challenging quarter for Spotify, where it missed expectations and reported weak guidance. CEO Daniel Ek attributed the struggles to a weaker ads business, though user growth remained strong. Active users increased by 11% to 696 million, while paid subscribers grew by 12% to 276 million in the second quarter. The new Audiobooks+ plan aims to generate additional revenue from these existing customers.
In December, HarperCollins hinted at a solution for household members being unable to access audiobooks. CEO Brian Murray mentioned that Spotify was addressing a technical issue that restricted audiobook streaming to only the primary account holder. Last month, Spotify fulfilled this promise by expanding audiobook access to plan members in several non-U.S. markets.
Spotify has not disclosed how many Premium subscribers listen to audiobooks alongside music or podcasts, but it reports a 35% year-over-year increase in audiobook listening hours in the U.S., U.K., and Australia—even before the introduction of these add-on plans.
This news comes shortly after Spotify announced a price increase for its subscriptions, raising rates from €10.99 to €11.99 in markets across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. The company also plans to explore additional options for book enthusiasts in the future, including direct sales.