Spotify to sell physical books and launch scan-to-sync audiobook feature
Bookshop.org partnership and Page Match tool aim to bridge formats and support independent bookshops
Spotify will soon let users in the US and UK buy physical books through its app and switch seamlessly between printed pages and audiobooks using a new feature called Page Match.
The company said physical books remain the dominant format for readers, accounting for nearly 73% of trade publishing revenue last year, and that the updates are designed to help people engage with books in whatever format suits them.
Launching later this spring, Spotify will integrate Bookshop.org into its app to enable the purchase of physical books. Bookshop.org connects readers with independent bookshops, and sales through the Spotify platform will support those stores directly.
“We are excited to see the impact Spotify’s scale will have for local bookstores,” said Andy Hunter, founder and chief executive of Bookshop.org.
Spotify is also introducing Page Match, a tool that allows users to scan a printed or e-book page to find the same spot in the audiobook version.
The company said the feature will launch for most English-language titles on iOS and Android by the end of February. Users can scan again to return to the same place later.
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“This is the most exciting development in reading technology I’ve heard about in years because it will get more people reading and listening to books,” said author Harlan Coben.
Audiobooks can be accessed through the Audiobooks hub in the Spotify app.
The Recap
- Spotify will sell physical books via Bookshop.org in app.
- Page Match switches between print or e-book and audiobook.
- Page Match available on most English titles by end of February.
