Spotify Introduces New Feature for Purchasing Printed Books via App

In a surprising move, Spotify, the leading streaming service, has unveiled a new feature that enables users to buy printed books directly through its app. This initiative is in collaboration with Bookshop.org, a website specializing in online book sales.

This development represents a significant expansion for the company, moving beyond its established audiobooks service to compete more directly with streaming offerings from major tech firms such as Apple and Amazon.

Spotify launched its audiobook service two years ago and has seen notable growth in this sector, with new listeners increasing by 36% and listening hours rising by 37% year-over-year, according to Reuters data.

The printed book purchasing feature is set to launch next spring in the United States and the United Kingdom, with Bookshop.org overseeing pricing, inventory, and order fulfillment, while Spotify will earn a commission on each in-app purchase.

This announcement comes at a time when global sales of printed books are declining, as more consumers shift towards e-books and other digital formats.

In this context, Spotify has also raised the price of its monthly premium subscription by one dollar to $12.99 in the U.S., Estonia, and Latvia. Although the company's stock recently fell by 4.5%, it has experienced an overall increase of nearly 30% over the past year.

With this initiative, Spotify aims to broaden its scope beyond music, podcasts, and audiobooks, seeking to create a more comprehensive and interactive user experience, positioning itself as a digital hub for both audio and reading enthusiasts.