Spotify Audiobooks+ Add-On Draws Users, Drives Revenue - Publishers Daily

One million people are a lot of extra hours listening.

Panzer's first stop in the Catosphere today was at the Publishers Daily site. With no digging in the posts at all he found one about Spotify.

 

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, Spotify has reported 1 million subscribers to the new Audiobooks+ Add-On. There are several links to other information about this Add-On included in the post.

 

Panzer says, "There's a lot of audiobooks being listened to on Spotify."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Spotify Audiobooks 

Can BookBeat Rival Storytel in Sweden? - Publishing Perspectives

Interesting revenue chart.

Today Panzer found a post at the Publishing Perspectives site about BookBeat and Storytel.

 

The post addresses if BookBeat's growth in Sweden will allow the company to reach an equal size to Storytel. It also addresses what kind of impact Spotify's entry into the audiobook market will have on the two, if any. The post includes a revenue comparison chart from 1016 to 2025 for BookBeat and Storytel.

 

Panzer says, "BookBeat appears to be increasing it's revenue at a fast rate."

 

Note:This is a very, very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Bookbeat 

ElevenLabs Summit: An Audiobook Company That Isn't About Audiobooks - Publishing Perspectives

They're a really big company.

Here's a post about ElevenLabs Panzer found at the Publishing Perspectives site.

 

Carlo Carrehno's begins with an overview of ElevenLabs Summit at which the company focused on company aspects different from its audiobook platform. The first section is followed by an examination of ElevenLabs other voice business plans and possible future plans for audiobooks and publishing.

  

Panzer says, "They're a much bigger company than just the audiobooks platform."

 

Note:This is a long length post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to ElevenLabs Summit 

ElevenLabs, Valued at $ 11 Billion, 'Doubles Down' on Audiobooks - Publishers Daily

Hmm ... Three tiers of production.

Here's a post about ElevenLabs Panzer found on the Publishers Daily site today.

 

According to Ed Nawotka's post, ElevenLabs is concentrating on audiobook production. The post includes several links to other information about the platform.

  

Panzer says, "There are a lot of audiobook production platforms now."

 

Note: This is a long short length post. You won't need to bring anything to snack on. If you follow the links in the post, then you'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to ElevenLabs

Libro.fm Reports Growth in 2025, Launches Annual Subscription - Publishers Weekly

Looks like a better deal for bookstores.

Panzer's first stop in the Catosphere today was at the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all our adventuresome kitty found a post about Libro.fm.

 

The post by Ed Nawotka examines Libro.fm and the expansion of it's service to add annual subscriptions

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Interesting."

 

Note: This is a long post so you'll need to decide what to bring to snack on. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Libro-fm Annual Subscription 

Spotify Tests Audiobooks in Middle Eastern, African Markets - Publishers Weekly

Saving my energy for tomorrow.

On his way home from the Catosphere Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging in the posts at all our cute little kitty boy found a one about Spotify.

 

According to Ed Nawotka's post, Spotify's expansion in the Middle East and African markets is testing the company's subscription tiers. The expansion begins with English only audiobooks.

 

Panzer says, "It's an interesting business decision."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea to drink. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Spotify 

Harry Potter Full-Cast AAdds Bill Nighy as Slughorn, 11 Others - The Hollywood Reporter

The post says they'll be out soon.

Panzer's next stop was at The Hollywood Reporter site. If you've been around here for a while, you know Panzer was a big fan of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels and movies. Now, there are going to be Harry Potter audiobooks.

Ethan Vlessing's post says all the voice cast people are chosen and the audiobooks are ready for recording. The post contains a link to an earlier post with the list of who will narrate the other characters.

 

Panzer says, "I like audiobooks because I can listen to them when I'm traveling in the Panzermobile."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Harry Potter Audiobook 

Frankfurt White Paper: AI Tools' Potential Benefits, Challenges - Publishing Perspectives

I earned this today.

On his way back home in the Catosphere Panzer made a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. With only a little digging in the posts, he found one about AI and audiobooks.

 

Erin L. Cox's post is an indepth look at a white paper about AI and it's use in generating audiobooks and translations in the publishing world. The post contains a link to the white paper.

 

Panzer says, "It's an interesting subject."

 

Note: This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what you want to bring to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to AI Tools 

Spotify Expands Audiobook Add-On Service to 11 Markets - Publishers Daily

I don't see the U.S. on the expansion list.

Today, Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Daily site. With no digging in the posts at all our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Spotify.

 

Ed Nawotka's post explains Spotify's expanded service Audiobooks+ to add more reading hours to subscribers' accounts. Subscribers in eleven more locations can now purchase the add-on. 

 

Panzer says, "If you like to listen to the longer audiobooks during the month, this is for you."

 

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade and a brownie for today's snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to Spotify

Audiobook Pros Confirm the Customer is Always Right - Publishers Weekly

A lot of changes since AI came on the scene.

Panzer found this post about audiobooks on the Publishers Weekly site. The post is about the Parix Audio Day held in February.

 

Christopher Kenneally's post contains quotes from several of the attendees. Subjects cover the future of subscription services, transparency in the AI narration arena, and the acceptance by different age and gender groups of audiobooks delivery systems. Included in the post are links to other information.

 

 Panzer says, "Audiobooks are really getting complicated."

 

Note: This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Audiobooks 

Spotify Expands Its Reach to Self-Published Authors - Publishers Weekly

Look in your files and see what you've got.

Today, when Panzer was out tootling around in the Catosphere, he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts there our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Spotify's new endeavor.

 

According to Ed Nawolka's post, Spotify is looking for novelette length stories from indie authors to turn into audiobooks.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure and read the post so you know what they're looking for, before you approach Spotify."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on.

 

To read the post tootle over to Spotify

London Book Fair: An Audiobook Update From Audible - Publishing Perspectives

Scammers have voice cloned for awhile now.

Today, Panzer went to the Publishing Perspectives site where he found a post about Audible's presentation at the London Book Fair.

 

Porter Anderson's post covers a wide range of information from Audible. It covers ACX audiobook generation, audiobook readership, Audible subscriber numbers, and information on AI generated audiobooks. The post also includes links to other information.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty found the most interesting part of the post was about narrator voice cloning."

 

Note:This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Audible

Spotify Adds Crooked Lane and Podium Audiobooks - Publishing Perspectives

They're getting a lot bigger too.

Today at the Publishing Perspectives site Panzer discovered Spotify just announced the company's 4th Quarter results. 

According to Porter Anderson's post, the company also announced their audiobook distribution partnership agreements with Crooked Lane and Podium Entertainment. There are also links to other information included in the post, although not all of the link destinations are on the Publishing Perspectives site.

 

Panzer says, "Spotify announced they increased their subscriber numbers too."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea to drink while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Spotify

S&S Launches Audio Imprint Simon Maverick, Helmed by Jason Pinter - Publishers Weekly

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They are choosing who they want to work with

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about a new Simon and Schuster (S&S) imprint.

According to Nathalie op de Beeck and John Maher's post, S&S has plans for the imprint to eventually be audiobooks first before other formats for books from indie authors.

Panzer says, "It sounds like an interesting new publishing avenue for indie authors."

Note: This is a long, long length post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

To read the post tootle over to Simon Maverick

Listen up! Why 2024 was the year of the audiobook - The Guardian

Can you tell I like audiobooks?

Today, Panzer's trip in the Catosphere took him to The Guardian site. There he discovered a post about audiobooks.

The post by Ellen Peirson-Hagger explains about audiobooks increase in sales and acceptance in 2024. There's also references to Spotify and Audible's audiobook competition and the entrance of AI into the audiobook market.

 

Panzer says, "If you visit here on Friday and Saturday, you must like romance and cozy mystery audiobooks."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on while you read.

To read the post tootle over to audiobooks

Free Clean Regency Romance Audiobook: The Betrayed Lady Winters - Friday August 9

I'll see what else I can find for you.

For you regency romance lovers Panzer found one for you on the Cobalt Fairy channel on YouTube.

 

The clean romance The Betrayed Lady Winters  is written by Emma Linfield. It's 3 hours 1 minute long.

 

Make a cup of tea and enjoy this romance audiobook.

To listen to the audiobook tootle over to The Betrayed Lady Winters

 

Spotify Adds 1,000 Audiobooks from 100 Publishers Distributed by Ingram - Publishers Weekly

Authors should always ask about rights and pay first.

Today, our speedy kitty pilot Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There with just a tiny bit of digging in the posts, he found one about Spotify.

 

According to Ed Nawotka's post, Spotify has added 1,000 audiobooks from its partner Ingram's distribution catalog to the company's Premium list. Spotify says the company wants to help small and independent publishers and authors find a wider audience.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty wants to know how much the authors will be paid for the new Ingram Spotify partnership."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Spotify

BookNet Canada: Free sources for Reading Surpass Paid - Publishing Perspectives

Why ask? Free of course.

At the Publishing Perspectives site Panzer found a post about Canadian readers' preferences for obtaining reading material.

Porter Anderson's post includes information from BookNet Canada's report about the almost 1500 readers questioned about obtaining their reading materials. No matter which format, ebook,  audiobook, or print, all users reported getting at least some of their materials for free.The post includes charts and graphs to illustrate the readers answers.

Panzer says, "Let's see: Free or paid. Which would you choose?"

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's snack while you read.

To read the post tootle over to BookNet Canada

Spotify price is reportedly going up again - The Verge

Another increase?

Today Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by booing and hissing outside. Following all the noise, took our brave kitty boy to The Verge site.There he found a post about Spotify.

 

The post by Chris Welch quotes from a report by Bloomberg that Spotify will be increasing their prices beginning the end of April in certain countries. The increase will be for Spotify's audiobook listeners.

 

Panzer says, "The post includes a link to the Bloomberg post."

 

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea to drink while you read the post.

 

To read the post tootle over to Spotify price increase

Libraries struggle to afford the demand for e-books and seek new state laws in fight with publishers - AP

Publishers raise the prices every year.

Panzer's post today is going to be short. We lost electricity last night and didn't get it back until late today. Let's just say things are a mess right now. With said, here's today's news.

 

On a quick trip to the AP news site Panzer discovered libraries are experiencing problems with ebooks and audiobook publishers again.

 

According to a post by Susan Haigh, the costs of publishers' ebooks and audiobook are forcing libraries to cut into their budgets. Libraries are also cutting back on the number of ebooks and audiobooks they can get for patrons as well as how long they can afford to offer them.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders if it's to publishers advantage to keep libraries from loaning the books to force patrons to buy the publishers' book to read it?"

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to read today's selection.

To read the post tootle over to Libraries and Ebook Publishers