Spotify Eyes Bookselling Industry With New Book Buying Feature
In Focus
- Spotify’s printed book sales feature is available in the U.S. and the U.K.
- The feature is currently available on Android, with iOS launching next week
- Spotify also rolled out the “Page Match” and “Audiobook Recaps” features
Spotify’s physical book purchase feature has gone live in the U.S. and the U.K. With this feature, users can buy physical books via the Spotify app. The music streaming platform first announced the new feature, which is called Shop Bookshop, early this year.
New Feature Integrates with Bookshop.org
Spotify has partnered with Bookshop.org to roll out the book purchase feature. The online retailer supports independent bookstores. Spotify’s integration with Bookshop.org allows users to quickly find and purchase physical copies of the books they want.
To facilitate this, Spotify has added a “Get a copy for your bookshelf” button on its app’s audiobook pages. The button directs users to Bookshop.org, where the pricing, inventory, and shipping are managed.
“By connecting digital discovery with physical book sales, we’re giving listeners more ways to experience the stories they love while supporting authors and independent bookstores,” Spotify noted in a statement published on its website.
Currently, Spotify’s book-buying feature is available on Android only. The feature is expected to roll out on iOS this coming week. The music streaming platform introduces the book purchase features months after introducing AI-powered playlists for Premium subscribers in North America. Spotify AI playlists allow users to customize the music they wish to listen to on the platform.
Spotify Also Rolled Out the “Page Match” Feature
Besides the physical book sale feature, the audio streaming platform expanded its “Page Match” tool. The feature now supports 30 more languages, including Swedish, French and German. With Spotify’s “Page Match”, users can shift to the sections of the audiobook they wish to listen to.
The tool allows users to scan their preferred page from a book with their smartphone camera. It analyzes the text and takes the user to the corresponding section in the audiobook. Shopify has also rolled out the “Audiobook Recaps” feature on Android. This feature offers users brief audio summaries based on their recent audiobook, enabling them to resume listening.
“Whether it’s discovering a book the same way you’d find a song or podcast on Spotify, picking up the audiobook on your commute, using “Page Match” to switch to a physical copy at home, or jumping back in with a Recap, we’re making it easier for people to engage with books while supporting growth for authors and publishers along the way,” Spotify’s Global Head of Audiobooks, Owen Smith noted.
Spotify’s Focus on Increasing Profit
By introducing the physical books feature on Android and iOS, Spotify is positioning itself as a major player in the bookselling industry. The move reflects the company’s plan to transform into a one-stop platform for users who love books. The latest offering forms part of Spotify’s profitability plan.
Recently, Spotify reported growth in quarterly revenue after its Wrapped campaign significantly expanded its user base. The music streaming platform recently reached 751 million monthly active users. Spotify expects to grow its premium subscriber base to 293 million.
