Spotify launches physical book purchase feature in US and UK

In February, Spotify made an exciting (and somewhat unusual) move by entering the world of physical bookselling. As of this week, the new feature has been officially rolled out in the US and UK, allowing users to purchase physical books through the Spotify app.

This collaboration is with Bookshop.org, an online marketplace dedicated to supporting local, independent bookstores. On the audiobook page within the app, you’ll see a button labeled “Get a copy for your bookshelf.” Clicking this button will take you to Bookshop’s website where you can manage pricing, inventory, and shipping.

Currently, the ability to purchase physical books is only available on Android devices, with iOS users expected to gain access next week.

Today’s announcement solidifies Spotify’s position as a competitor to major bookstores as it aims to transform into a one-stop shop for book lovers. The new service is also part of Spotify’s larger strategy to focus on profitability. To further this goal, the company has been increasing subscription prices in the US and Europe. It recently touted 751 million monthly active listeners.

In addition to selling physical books, Spotify has launched several other updates that it first announced in February. This includes enhancements to the “Page Match” feature, which now supports over 30 additional languages, including French, German, and Swedish. Page Match allows users to scan the pages of a physical or e-book using their smartphone’s camera. This tool analyzes the content and directs the user to the corresponding section of the audiobook.

Since the feature was introduced for English-language books in February, Spotify reports that users who use Page Match stream an average of 55% more audiobooks each week compared to other listeners. Additionally, 62% of page-matched audiobook titles on Spotify are books that users have never streamed before.

Additional updates include the official rollout of “Audiobook Recaps” on Android devices. This feature provides short audio summaries tailored to the latest points in your story, so you can start listening right away.

The company also announced that “Audiobook Charts”, similar to Spotify’s music and podcast charts, are now available in Germany, following previous rollouts in the US and UK. These charts help users find their next favorite book by showcasing popular books and trends on Spotify.