YouTube has been in talks with publishers about offering audiobooks in its Premium subscription service, which could be available next year, the Wall Street Journal reports. Publishing executives are “eager to find a revenue-generating alternative to the glut of unauthorized audio versions of their books that now appear on the platform,” according to the paper. “It isn’t clear how the company would display the content and whether it would charge for access to individual books,” the WSJ states.
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FBF: The Future of Audio, Frankfurt
As the Frankfurt Book Fair continues on to the public phases, trade attendees noted current changes and speakers looked to the future. The new layout for exhibitors didn’t hugely affect the proceedings, but repeat attendees noticed the difference, noting that Hall 4 (where most Anglophone publishers were stationed) was noticeably more crowded while Hall 3 was emptier. The rights center, which moved to Hall 1 this year, was a significant hike from the rest of the fair. Puzzle books emerged as a key genre that people are looking for at the fair. Within children’s publishing, rightsholders discussed graphic novels and […]
Spotify Expands Audiobook Availability Worldwide
Spotify will expand its audiobook offerings to be available in more than 180 markets by the end of 2026, bringing access to 750 million users, the company announced today. Audiobooks were previously available in 22 markets. Spotify will also add languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Polish, to its audiobook availability, totaling more than 120 languages. “Books change how we see the world, and the people in it. For a lot of people, audiobooks are how they find their way back to reading, on the commute, on a walk, or at the end of a long day. Bringing audiobooks to more […]
Audible Launches “Bonus” Interactive Audio Experience in Audiobooks
Audible is rolling out three AI features in beta for US and UK users. Features will first be available for Audible Original titles, and the company plans to expand in the future. Later this fall, the company will release “interactive stories” that allow readers to have a “bonus experience” with a character outside of a book’s narrative, “brought to life through a unique combination of generative AI, conversational design, and rich sound production.” The first interactive story is adapted from Bram Stoker’s Dracula and follows the character of Renfield. “The character speaks first, assigning the listener a role, goal, and […]
Spotify Expands AI Audiobook Creation
Spotify has expanded their Audiobook Creation Tools, which were previously in beta, to all English-language books by self-published authors in the US. The service uses Eleven Labs’ AI voices to create an audiobook from a finished manuscript, and the audiobook does not need to be exclusive to Spotify. It’s free to create an audiobook, but users must have a “validated payment profile” to access the tool. “Some limits on usage and audiobook generation apply,” Spotify’s website notes. “The goal of Audiobook Creation Tools is simple: Help more authors break into the world of audiobooks and reach new fans,” Spotify states. […]
New Spotify Features Link Series, Build Playlists
Spotify debuted a spate of new features that link series and allow listeners to use plain language to find a book. When a listener finishes a book in a series, Spotify will automatically recommend the next book. Series pages will also list all books in order. Spotify will also construct audiobook playlists based on a users’ descriptions. “Series linking” and “prompted playlists” are available in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. The company also debuted a chatbot which allows users to have a “conversation” with Spotify by voice or text. Users can ask follow up questions about […]