Can one of the major providers of music streaming services save the corner bookstore? On Wednesday, Spotify launched a feature in the US and UK that will allow some subscribers to order a physical book with a single click on the app.
This feature is a partnership with Bookshop.org, an online retailer whose mission is to “help local, independent bookstores thrive in the age of e-commerce.” The retailer gives 80% of its profits to independent bookstores and has raised more than $46 million in revenue since its launch in 2020. Book buyers can buy from the independent store or directly from the site, with a portion of their purchase going into the profit sharing area.
Spotify’s global head of audiobooks, Owen Smith, said in a news release that the streaming giant wants to make “reading relevant to modern life” and make it “easier for people to engage with books while supporting the growth of authors and publishers along the way.” Spotify’s collaboration with Bookshop was announced in February.
Spotify said the new feature is “rolling out” to Android users on Wednesday and should be available on iOS devices next week. Customers can purchase a physical copy of one of the top 60,000 titles in the app, and the feature is available to both Premium Spotify subscribers for free.
Spotify has provided images showing how to access the new feature. If you’re browsing an audiobook, scroll past the description on the “About” tab to the “Find the print edition” section. Tapping the row with the book cover and format opens a dialog titled “Shop at Bookshop.org.” You can then tap the link and start the purchase process.
A Spotify representative told CNET that you may need to update your app if the “print edition” option doesn’t appear.
Here’s how Spotify Premium subscribers will see audiobook titles available on Bookshop.org.
Even in the digital age, physical books still seem to thrive. According to market research and consulting firm Grand View Research, hard copy books will account for more than 78% of book sales revenue by 2025, “an opportunity to cut screens and escape the constant distraction of texts, emails and notifications.”
In its January survey, the American Booksellers Association said 73% of respondents reported that their sales will increase in 2025 compared to 2024.
In addition to the Bookshop partnership, Spotify also announced Wednesday that it has expanded its Page Match feature — which allows Premium subscribers to easily switch between a book and its audiobook in the app — to more than 30 languages, including French, German and Swedish. Students can use their phone’s camera to scan a page from a notebook or ebook. By analyzing the content of that page, the Page Match tool can point the reader to that section in the audiobook.
Spotify said customers who use Page Match stream 55% more hours of audiobooks per week on average than other listeners.
Another announcement from Wednesday is that Audiobook Recaps are now available on Android, joining iOS users in access. The feature offers short audio summaries that match your last listening point “to give you a refresher on the story so far, making it easy to jump back in.”
