Spotify, with 433 million total listeners worldwide, recently launched audiobooks for purchase in the US. Listeners can browse a library of 300,000 titles from publishers large and small in a new audiobooks hub, as well as in Spotify searches.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to have your credit card ready. While Spotify has always offered up an unlimited audio selection for music or podcasts, you will now need to pay for every audiobook. After an unspecified free preview, you'll need to click a link directing you out of Spotify's app to its transactional website. There, you'll purchase the title upfront, regardless of whether you're a Spotify premium member with a paid subscription or you listen for free with ads.
The move broadens Spotify beyond tunes to yet another variety of audio...and another way to capitalize on the ever growing trend of streaming media.