It’s suggested payments to songwriters could drop by US$150 million over the next year under Spotify’s new ‘bundle’ classification.It’s suggested payments to songwriters could drop by US$150 million over the next year under Spotify’s new ‘bundle’ classification., one of the world’s largest audio platforms, entered the audiobook market last October, offering its premium subscribers 15 hours per month of free audiobook listening. But audiobook bundling has led to reduced royalties for songwriters.
Audiobooks’ increasing popularity has, like the rise of podcasts and other forms of audio, been driven by the rapid uptake of smartphones. Pre-digital audiobooks circulated on vinyl, cassette or CD, as well asIn 2024, audiobook listening is shaped not by physical media, but by digital production and distribution platforms, like Audible and now Spotify.
Spotify maintained both the production and distribution sides of the business until late 2023. Then it quietly closed doors on production and rebranded. The distribution arm is now officially called “Findaway Voices by Spotify”.