Spotify Partners With Netflix for Video Podcasts, Touts Gains in Audiobook Listenership

Spotify has announced 2 caller developments successful its propulsion into non-music content: a video podcast woody with Netflix and statistic that amusement subscribers are rapidly adopting audiobooks connected the platform. 

Starting successful the U.S. successful aboriginal 2026, podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer, a media institution founded by sportswriter Bill Simmons that was acquired by Spotify successful 2020, will beryllium disposable connected Netflix, the streaming elephantine announced Tuesday (Oct. 14). Among the shows that volition beryllium disposable astatine the partnership’s onset are The Bill Simmons Show, the hoops oriented The Zach Lowe Show, existent transgression titles Conspiracy Theories and Serial Killers, and popular civilization podcasts The Rewatchables and The Big Picture. 

For Netflix, video podcasts supply an further mode to scope viewers, explained Lauren Smith, Netflix vp of contented licensing and programming strategy. “As video podcasts proceed to turn successful popularity, our concern with Spotify allows america to bring afloat video versions of these apical shows to some Netflix and Spotify audiences,” she said successful a statement. “From popular civilization and manner to existent transgression and sports, this curated enactment of video podcasts adds caller voices and caller perspectives to Netflix, making our amusement lineup much breathtaking than ever.” 

Spotify besides announced a slew of audiobook statistic that amusement the institution is making advancement successful its ambition to beforehand the size of the audiobook market. Of subscribers who are eligible to watercourse audiobooks connected Spotify, much than fractional person done so, the institution revealed Tuesday. Audiobook listeners are up 36% twelvemonth implicit year, and listening hours are up 37% twelvemonth implicit year.  

Spotify made audiobooks disposable for streaming in the U.K. and Australia successful October 2023, followed by the U.S. a period later. Subscribers to the Premier tier are fixed 15 hours of listening per period and tin acquisition further time. Audiobooks are presently disposable to Spotify subscribers successful 14 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, France, Australia, the Netherlands and Ireland. Approximately 500,000 titles are disposable successful the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.  

In the twelvemonth since audiobooks launched successful France and Benelux, French and Dutch listening hours are up 10% period implicit month, Spotify reported. In the six months since launching successful Germany, audiobook listeners are up implicit 9% period implicit month.  

Spotify entered the audiobook marketplace with the volition of taking connected the entrenched person successful the market, Amazon-owned Audible. The goal, CEO Daniel Ek explained successful Feb. 2024, is to “grow the pastry for the publishing manufacture and grow the involvement successful audiobooks to an wholly caller acceptable of listeners.” That required raising prices, however, and Spotify increased its monthly interest successful the U.S. to $11.99 for individuals successful June 2024. Audiobook-free options are disposable for existing Spotify subscribers ...