Authors can now market like musicians, thanks to Spotify

Spotify unveiled a new tool this week that allows publishers and authors of audiobooks to preview their upcoming releases. Fans can pre-save an upcoming title and have it automatically added to their library when it is released with Countdown Pages, a feature that was introduced for music artists last year and is now being used by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. To pique listeners’ interest, a sizable countdown clock with a timer that counts down to the second is adorning the page. Although the functionality isn’t groundbreaking, it fits with Spotify’s strategy for setting itself apart from other audiobook providers.

Anticipating a new audiobook is a common practice. You can preorder the book via conventional outlets like Audible, and on the day of publication, it will appear in your library. However, the majority of Spotify users who listen to audiobooks do so via premium streaming as opposed to buying them, which upends the conventional release strategy. When combined with the countdown clock and promo page, this tool enables writers to interact with fans in a manner more akin to music than publishing. Launch day is set for mid-April.

This is probably not the last music-related feature that Spotify’s audiobook vertical will get. Following a rocky beginning, the company’s audiobook strategy is beginning to become more apparent. That doesn’t imply everything will function; in particular, there are few doubts about the audiobook-only tier, which is only one dollar less expensive than a standard premium membership. However, the data thus far suggests that Spotify is growing its market.