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By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
A Heavy Entry Into the Nordic Markets
In an announcement today (November 18), Spotify has introduced its audiobook service into the audio-avid bundle of Nordic markets of Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland, as well as Monaco.
In commentary to the news media, the company writes, “Listeners in these markets will now have access to more than 300,000 audiobooks as part of their premium subscription, including a robust mix of local-language and English-language titles featuring both independent publishers and major partners such as Bonnier.
“This means music, podcasts, and audiobooks are all in one unified subscription.
“And, for the first time at launch, premium users can also purchase Audiobooks+ – a recurring monthly add-on that provides additional listening for Family/Duo accounts.”
In messaging the world publishing media, Stockholm-based Spotify writes, “This marks another step for Spotify in expanding the global publishing ecosystem and driving incremental revenue, introducing both local and international authors/publishers to new audiences across one of the world’s most engaged audiobook regions.”
The company reports, “In our English-language markets, audiobook listeners are up 36 percent year-over-year, with total listening hours up 37 percent%.
“More than half (52 percent) of Spotify’s international audiobook audience is between 18 and 34, underscoring how we’re connecting a new generation with the power of storytelling.
“Leading publishers such as Bloomsbury, HarperCollins, and Lagardère have even credited Spotify with driving double-digit growth in audio sales.”
More from Publishing Perspectives on Frankfurter Buchmesse is here.
Special Magazines from Publishing Perspectives and Associates
Special Magazines from Publishing Perspectives and AssociatesNew Developments in China’s Publishing Industry
Don’t miss our China Publishers-Publishing Perspectives Magazine, with its special Frankfurt Report. The publication carries market data on China’s publishing industry and profiles of China’s major publishers. That one is downloadable—free of charge, of course—at this link.
Rights Guide: 2025 Sheikh Zayed Book Award Winners
In our Rights Guide for the 2025 Sheikh Zayed Book Award Winners, you can discover the 2025 winners of this prestigious prize , plus all the past shortlisted titles and winners that are eligible for translation grants, to help publishers acquire the rights to some of the most acclaimed contemporary work of the Arab world.
The guide also includes all the shortlisted titles and winners from previous years’ editions of the Sheikh Zayed program. That one is downloadable at this link.
Frankfurter Buchmesse Publishing Perspectives 2025 Show Magazine
A version of this story appeared in our Publishing Perspectives 2025 Show Magazine, which was released in its print edition on the opening day of Buchmesse, October 15.
If you couldn’t be with us in Frankfurt this year, be sure to download our PDF of the full magazine here.
More China bestseller reports from Publishing Perspectives are here, and more on the Chinese book publishing market is here.
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