Spotify launches a program to publish audiobooks from independent authors

Spotify said it’s specifically looking for stories across three genres: romance, mystery or thriller, and sci-fi or fantasy. Having seen the success of titles like fantasy romance “A Court of Thorns & Roses,” which was 2024’s top audiobook on the service, Spotify is encouraging authors to submit cross-genre works like “romantasy, dark romance thriller, mystery sci-fi, or psychological thriller.”

However, Spotify said it won’t accept submissions of erotica or children’s content.

Spotify said that audiobook candidates should be novelettes of approximately 10,000 to 20,000 words in English. Authors should have the audio rights for the stories they submit for consideration, the company added.

Spotify said submissions will be selected for production on a rolling basis.

The expansion will allow Spotify to more directly compete with the audiobook giant Audible, which offers its subscribers access to Audible Originals and exclusives. Those tend to be shorter books and stories.

Spotify first expanded from music and podcasts into audiobooks with the acquisition of digital audiobook distributor Findaway in 2021. Findaway operated a number of services in the audiobook space, including those focused on production, distribution, connecting authors with voice actors, bringing audiobooks to schools, and more.

Spotify later rolled out free audiobook listening to Spotify Premium subscribers in 2023. From a catalog of some 200,000 titles, customers can access 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening for free, and can optionally buy additional hours if they need more listening time.

Since Spotify’s move into the audiobook market, it’s been working to expand its catalog, including through the addition of audiobooks narrated by ElevenLabs’ AI voice technology.