Spotify to incorporate Storytel Audiobooks into its platform as part of a partnership deal with Storytel, one of the world’s leading audiobook streaming services. Later in 2021, Storytel subscribers will be able to enjoy Storytel’s library of audiobooks on Spotify by linking the two accounts.
Courtney Holt, Global Head of Studios, Spotify, said “It is Spotify’s goal to be the singular platform for all audio: music, podcasts, live conversations, and now via this partnership, audiobooks. By utilizing the Spotify Open Access Platform, Storytel will be able to deliver its premium audiobooks offering using Spotify’s best-in-class platform, all while retaining direct control over their relationship to their audience.”
Spotify sees this partnership as an illustration of the power of open access as an opportunity for audio creators and providers everywhere to make a home for their content on Spotify while retaining complete control over their business model and a direct relationship with their subscriber base. Spotify aims to continue to open up the Open Access Platform with listeners able to find a greater variety of content available for them to enjoy, all within one app.
The streamer commented on its partnership deal by saying that, “Audiobooks are just one form of audio that will be available using Spotify’s Open Access Platform the possibilities in audio are limitless.” It promises additional partners and wider access to its Open Access Platform programme with announcements to come later this year.
Jonas Tellander, founder and CEO, Storytel, said “We want everyone to have access to great stories, and today we offer more than 500,000 audiobooks on a global basis across 25 markets. Partnering with Spotify will make amazing audiobook experiences and exciting authorships easier than ever to access for our customers, while we will also be tapping into the opportunity of reaching new audiences who are on Spotify today, but have not yet experienced the magic of audiobooks.”
