Spotify has announced that it’s getting into the audiobook business. Today, the company is giving U.S. listeners the opportunity to stream audiobooks. Over 300,000 titles are available on a pay-per-book model, meaning they’re not automatically available to stream with an existing paid Spotify subscription. Users have to purchase books individually to listen to them.
As with any digital audiobook hub, the prices of the titles vary. Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died retails at publication time for $13.99; J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring costs $25.90; and George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire is currently $36.90. The new service offers offline listening, automatic bookmarking, speed control, and listener-driven book ratings.
It’s the latest effort from Spotify to expand into the world of audio beyond music. The company has made several big investments into podcasts, including Joe Rogan’s controversial series and a now-expired deal with Barack and Michelle Obama’s media company.
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