Spotify is deepening its push into the audiobook market. At its Investor Day event on Thursday, the company announced a new AI-powered tool that lets authors self-publish audiobooks directly through its Spotify for Authors platform. The feature, developed in partnership with voice AI startup ElevenLabs, is set to launch in beta this June on an invite-only basis, initially supporting only the English language.
What the New Tool Offers Authors
The tool uses ElevenLabs’ expressive voice models to generate human-like narration from an author’s manuscript. Importantly, Spotify says the feature will not require an exclusive contract, meaning authors remain free to distribute their AI-narrated audiobooks on other platforms as well. This builds on an existing partnership between the two companies, which already allowed writers to submit audiobooks created on ElevenLabs’ platform to Spotify.
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Spotify’s decision to integrate ElevenLabs directly into its author platform signals a desire to offer more sophisticated, natural-sounding voice options. The company already had a partnership with Google Play Books for digitally narrated content, but ElevenLabs’ newer voice models are widely regarded as more expressive and human-like.
Expanding Spotify for Authors and Audiobook Reach
Alongside the AI narration tool, Spotify is expanding its Spotify for Authors platform to support 10 additional languages: French, Canadian French, German, Dutch, Latin American Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, Danish, and Norwegian. The company also plans to introduce higher listening limits for its Audiobook+ subscription tier this year, with new options for students and families expected in the future. Pricing and usage details for these plans have not yet been disclosed.
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Spotify’s audiobook catalog has grown to 700,000 titles, and the company reports that listening hours have increased by 60% year-on-year. More than half of its audiobook listeners started in the last year alone. The Audiobook+ subscription service has surpassed one million subscribers and is on track to generate $100 million in annualized recurring revenue.
New Discovery Features and Natural Language Search
Spotify also introduced a new natural language search feature for audiobook discovery, allowing users to ask questions in conversational language to find titles. This summer, the company will expand its existing prompt-based playlist feature—currently available for music and podcasts—to include audiobooks. These moves reflect Spotify’s broader strategy to make its audiobook library more discoverable and user-friendly.
Context and Industry Implications
The announcement comes as Spotify continues to invest heavily in audiobooks, having brought the program to international markets, invested in non-English titles, enabled in-app purchases, and released audiobook charts. Earlier this year, it also launched a program for authors to sell physical books in the U.S. and U.K. Notably, ElevenLabs released its own self-publishing platform for authors in 2025, making this partnership a strategic alignment between two companies competing in the AI-narration space.
For authors, the new tool lowers the barrier to entry for producing audiobooks, traditionally a costly and time-consuming process. For listeners, it promises a wider selection of titles with more natural narration. The move also positions Spotify as a serious competitor to dedicated audiobook platforms like Audible, especially as it avoids exclusive contracts that lock in content.
Conclusion
Spotify’s integration of ElevenLabs’ AI voice technology into its author platform represents a significant step in its audiobook strategy. By offering a non-exclusive, easy-to-use tool for self-publishing audiobooks, the company is betting that quality AI narration will attract more authors and listeners alike. The beta launch in June will be a key test of how well the technology meets user expectations and whether it can drive further growth in Spotify’s audiobook business.
FAQs
Q1: When will Spotify’s ElevenLabs audiobook tool be available?
A: The tool will launch in beta in June 2025 on an invite-only basis, initially supporting English-language titles.
Q2: Will authors be locked into an exclusive contract if they use Spotify’s AI narration tool?
A: No. Spotify has stated that the feature will not require an exclusive contract, allowing authors to distribute their audiobooks on other platforms as well.
Q3: What languages will Spotify for Authors support after the expansion?
A: The platform will support 10 additional languages, including French, Canadian French, German, Dutch, Latin American Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, Danish, and Norwegian, on top of English.
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