Spotify Now Sells Physical Books: New Feature Supports Independent Bookstores in US and UK
The streaming service Spotify has launched a new feature that allows users to buy physical books in the app. The new feature was implemented in partnership with the platform Bookshop.org — an online marketplace that helps independent bookstores sell products online.
What is known
Currently, the option is available to users in the USA and the UK. In the Spotify app, alongside audiobooks, there is a "Get a copy for your bookshelf" option — it redirects the user to the Bookshop.org website, where the purchase and delivery take place. The feature is already working on Android, and iOS support is expected soon.
The company emphasizes: audiobooks are not meant to replace paper books but rather to complement them. This approach reflects the real situation in the market, where physical books still hold a strong position. Moreover, purchases through the integration support independent bookstores and authors.
The key element of the ecosystem has become the Page Match feature, introduced earlier this year. It allows synchronizing progress between different formats: paper books, electronic versions, and audio. The user can scan a page with a smartphone camera and continue listening from the corresponding place. Currently, the feature has been expanded — it supports over 30 languages.
Spotify is also developing AI tools for readers. In particular, the Audiobook Recaps feature creates short audio summaries of previous chapters so the user can quickly recall the content before continuing.
Spotify launched audiobooks in 2022. Today, Premium subscribers receive up to 15 hours of free listening per month. The new step with the sale of physical books indicates the company's desire to establish itself as a universal platform for reading — regardless of format.
Source: Spotify
