Latest news with #SpotifyPremium
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Spotify wants more money from customers, but its offer leaves to be desired
Do you plan to pay for Audiobooks+ when it arrives in the US? Yes, it's more convenient to pay for everything in one place No, I prefer Audible for audiobooks. I prefer to read books rather than listen to audiobooks. Yes, it's more convenient to pay for everything in one place 0% No, I prefer Audible for audiobooks. 0% I prefer to read books rather than listen to audiobooks. 0% Receive the latest Apps news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Audiobooks+ is now available in several more countries | Image credit: Spotify Countries where the Audiobooks+ add-on subscription is now available: Australia Austria Belgium Canada France Germany Liechtenstein Luxembourg New Zealand United Kingdom Spotify announced that Audiobooks+ is available in the UK for £9 per month, but that's all we know so far. The add-on subscription is not yet available in the United States, but Spotify says it will bring this option to Spotify Premium customers in the country in the 'coming weeks.' Audiobooks+ : Available to Premium Individual subscribers as well as Family and Duo plan managers, this add-on unlocks an additional 15 hours of listening each month for the existing base plan. : Available to Premium Individual subscribers as well as Family and Duo plan managers, this add-on unlocks an additional 15 hours of listening each month for the existing base plan. Audiobooks+ for Plan Members : For the first time, additional members on Premium Family and Duo can access 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening through this recurring add-on. They can also purchase a one-time 10-hour top-up if they run out of hours before their monthly billing cycle refreshes. Spotify's new plan options aren't that competitive Launched back in 2023, Spotify's Audiobooks service had a positive effect on audiobook sales. According to a survey by the Audiobook Publishers Association, audiobook sales grew by 13 percent in 2024, with 99 percent of the revenues generated by digital audiobooks. More importantly, Spotify's publishing partners specifically name Spotify as a key contributor to the growth. Despite that, Spotify's Audiobooks plans are nowhere near as good as Audible, probably the best service aimed at those who love reading. Audible offers two subscription options, which are both superior to anything that Spotify has launched to date: Audible Plus : Unlimited listening: Members can stream or download any title from the Plus Catalog. Cost: $7.95 per month. Content: Includes audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. Titles: A constantly updated catalog of thousands of titles. Audible Premium Plus : Includes everything in Audible Plus, plus credits for premium selection titles. Cost: Starts at $14.95 per month. Credits: One credit per month for a premium selection title, which is yours to keep forever. Exclusive sales and discounts: Members get access to sales and discounts on additional premium selections. In comparison, Spotify's select Premium plans include 15 hours of audiobook listening time every month. The cheapest Premium plan that includes that many hours of listening time costs $10.99 in the United States. Since Audiobooks+ is not yet available in the US yet, we can't accurately compare it with Audible, but let's just put its price at around $10 just because Spotify is offering the plan in the UK for £9. Audible's plan options | Screenshot by PhoneArena That means that for 30 hours of listening time, Spotify customers will have to pay around $21 per month. But if you keep your Spotify Premium plan and pick Audible Plus instead of Audiobooks+, you get unlimited listening and pay about $19 per month. If you're a UK resident, it's easier to compare the two subscription options. Audible Premium Plus costs £9, the exact same price as Spotify announced for Audiobooks+, while Audible Standard is available for £6. In order for Spotify to make Audiobooks+ more appealing it needs to either lower the price or make it unlimited. However, based on its actions, Spotify has no intention of competing with other audiobooks services and is relying on the fact that Audible is only available in several regions like Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, and United States. That means that for 30 hours of listening time, Spotify customers will have to pay around $21 per month. But if you keep your Spotify Premium plan and pick Audible Plus instead of Audiobooks+, you get unlimited listening and pay about $19 per you're a UK resident, it's easier to compare the two subscription options. Audible Premium Plus costs £9, the exact same price as Spotify announced for Audiobooks+, while Audible Standard is available for £ order for Spotify to make Audiobooks+ more appealing it needs to either lower the price or make it unlimited. However, based on its actions, Spotify has no intention of competing with other audiobooks services and is relying on the fact that Audible is only available in several regions like Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, and United States. Countries where the Audiobooks+ add-on subscription is now available:Spotify announced that Audiobooks+ is available in the UK for £9 per month, but that's all we know so far. The add-on subscription is not yet available in the United States, but Spotify says it will bring this option to Spotify Premium customers in the country in the 'coming weeks.'Launched back in 2023, Spotify's Audiobooks service had a positive effect on audiobook sales. According to a survey by the Audiobook Publishers Association, audiobook sales grew by 13 percent in 2024, with 99 percent of the revenues generated by digital importantly, Spotify's publishing partners specifically name Spotify as a key contributor to the growth. Despite that, Spotify's Audiobooks plans are nowhere near as good as Audible, probably the best service aimed at those who love offers two subscription options, which are both superior to anything that Spotify has launched to date:In comparison, Spotify's select Premium plans include 15 hours of audiobook listening time every month. The cheapest Premium plan that includes that many hours of listening time costs $10.99 in the United Audiobooks+ is not yet available in the US yet, we can't accurately compare it with Audible, but let's just put its price at around $10 just because Spotify is offering the plan in the UK for £9. Spotify has just announced plans to bring its Audiobooks+ service to more countries after the successful initial trials launched earlier this year. Audiobooks+ will be slowly rolled out to several European countries, as well as Australia and New introduced in Canada and Ireland, Audiobooks+ allows Spotify Premium users to listen to an additional 15 hours of audiobooks included in the service's catalog. This is added on top of the hours of listening time per month included in Premium Individual and Family Spotify Premium plans include 15 hours of audiobook listening time per month from a catalog of over 250,000. Customers can buy top-ups if they need more audiobook listening Audiobooks+, the total hours of audiobook listening time per month reaches 30 for Premium Individual subscribers, as well as Family and Duo plan managers. However, Audiobooks+ doesn't come for free, so you'll have to pay a monthly fee on top of your Spotify Premium subscription.
Engadget
3 days ago
- Business
- Engadget
Spotify's Audiobooks+ add-on is now available to some Premium subscribers
It's likely that you predominantly associate Spotify with music and podcasts, but if you're a Premium member, you also get 15 hours of audiobook access per month. For some members, though, that clearly isn't enough, as Spotify has introduced a new add-on subscription that doubles that listening time. Audiobooks+ was first trialled in Ireland and Canada, and is launching initially for Premium Individual and Plan members in a number of countries in Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Once you've added it to your existing subscription, you'll get an additional 15 hours of listening to audiobooks included in Spotify's catalog , on top of what's already included in the base plan. For individuals, Spotify Premium on its own costs $12 per month. For those on Premium Family ($20 per month) or Duo ($17 per month) plans, the plan manager has to purchase the add-on, and they're also able to buy a one-time top-up of 10 hours if they run out before their entitlement resets each month. Spotify does already offer an Audiobooks Access plan to customers in the US only, which is separate from the Premium offering and also includes access to music and podcasts with ads. Pricing for Audiobooks+ varies by market, but will cost £9 per month in the UK (around $12), where an individual Premium plan costs £12 (about $16). We'll find out what it costs here when it arrives in the US, which Spotify told Engadget will happen in the "coming weeks". If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
TechCrunch
3 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Spotify expands audiobook access to family plan members for the first time
Spotify on Thursday announced an expansion of its premium audiobooks service, with two new plans that offer additional listening hours to subscribers, and allow other family members to access the service. The options are currently only available for Spotify Premium users in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, following initial tests in Ireland and Canada. U.S. users could already purchase 15 hours of listening as a standalone offering through an Audiobooks Access Plan, but these additions make it possible for those in other markets to customize their access to their own needs. The first new plan, Audiobooks+, offers Premium subscribers, or those who manage the household's Family or Duo plan, to add 15 hours of listening every month on top of the base plan. Today, Spotify's Premium plans include 15 hours of audiobook listening, so this new plan doubles that offering, ensuring subscribers can get through longer books or even a couple of shorter ones in the month. The other new plan, Audiobooks+ for Plan Members, will be an even more welcome addition for those who want to share access to audiobooks: Members on Premium Family and Duo plans will be able to access 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening, too. To use the feature, plan members will first request audiobook access from their plan manager, who purchases the new add-on. Members can also later buy a one-time top-up of 10 hours if they run out of listening time before the next billing cycle. Spotify did not share the pricing for the new options, as they vary by market. (TechCrunch has reached out for a list of prices, if available, and will update if the company provides more information.) One major publisher, HarperCollins, noted in December that Spotify was working to bring audiobooks to other family members on shared plans. At a conference, HarperCollins CEO Brian Murra said that the market had potential for further growth as Spotify was at the time working out a 'technical issue' with family plans that limited audiobooks to the plan's credit card holder. The streaming service sees AI as another opportunity for expansion, saying in last quarter's earnings that it was working with Eleven Labs to get more books narrated, including translating texts from English to other languages. Spotify's catalog now spans 375,000 audiobooks. However, buying audiobook hours instead of purchasing titles, as with Amazon's Audible, lets users experiment more with what they may want to listen to, as they won't waste money on books they end up not liking and choose not to finish.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Tata Neu HDFC Bank cardholders now get free Spotify Premium for 4 months
In a bid to sweeten the deal for digitally savvy consumers, Tata Digital has announced a new perk for Tata Neu HDFC Bank Credit Card (NeuCard) holders — four months of complimentary Spotify Premium. This marks Spotify's first-ever credit card partnership in India. What's the Offer? Effective July 16, 2025, Tata NeuCard users can unlock four months of ad-free music, offline listening, and enhanced app features via a unique redemption code. Once claimed, the Spotify Premium subscription will activate, with auto-renewal kicking in after the free period unless manually cancelled. How to Redeem Eligible NeuCard holders will receive an email or SMS with redemption instructions, or they can check the 'Offers' section on the Tata Neu app or website. Redemption involves entering NeuCard details during checkout on Spotify's platform. Why This Matters for Cardholders This offer adds to Tata NeuCard's already wide-ranging lifestyle rewards — spanning dining, shopping, wellness, travel, and now entertainment — and helps deepen brand engagement among younger, music-loving users. 'This tie-up with Spotify reflects our vision of building rewarding experiences for modern Indian consumers. With this collaboration, we're expanding NeuCard's suite of lifestyle privileges even further,' said Gaurav Hazrati, President, Financial Services, Tata Digital. Spotify India's MD Amarjit Batra noted that the partnership is designed to offer NeuCard holders more than just music. 'It's about immersive in-app features like Listening Parties, Radio, and offline experiences like artist-fan events — all through this subscription offer.' What Cardholders Should Know Eligibility: Offer is valid for existing and new Tata Neu HDFC Bank Credit Card holders. Auto-Renewal: Subscription will auto-renew after 4 months unless cancelled. Redemption: Instructions will be provided via SMS/email or the Tata Neu app. Limit: One redemption per user; standard Spotify Premium terms apply. For users already using Spotify's free tier or exploring Premium for the first time, this is a smart, low-risk way to test out a subscription model without upfront costs. And with music subscriptions often forming a recurring digital expense, four free months of Spotify Premium can translate to ₹500–₹800 in actual savings. For Tata NeuCard users, it's a value-add that ties banking and entertainment into a cohesive lifestyle benefit, part of a broader trend where fintech players are bundling experiential perks to drive usage and loyalty.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Tata Neu HDFC Bank cardholders now get fee Spotify Premium for 4 months
For users already using Spotify's free tier or exploring Premium for the first time, this is a smart, low-risk way to test out a subscription model without upfront costs. NEW DELHI In a bid to sweeten the deal for digitally savvy consumers, Tata Digital has announced a new perk for Tata Neu HDFC Bank Credit Card (NeuCard) holders — four months of complimentary Spotify Premium. This marks Spotify's first-ever credit card partnership in India. What's the Offer? Effective July 16, 2025, Tata NeuCard users can unlock four months of ad-free music, offline listening, and enhanced app features via a unique redemption code. Once claimed, the Spotify Premium subscription will activate, with auto-renewal kicking in after the free period unless manually cancelled. How to Redeem Eligible NeuCard holders will receive an email or SMS with redemption instructions, or they can check the 'Offers' section on the Tata Neu app or website. Redemption involves entering NeuCard details during checkout on Spotify's platform. Why This Matters for Cardholders This offer adds to Tata NeuCard's already wide-ranging lifestyle rewards — spanning dining, shopping, wellness, travel, and now entertainment — and helps deepen brand engagement among younger, music-loving users. 'This tie-up with Spotify reflects our vision of building rewarding experiences for modern Indian consumers. With this collaboration, we're expanding NeuCard's suite of lifestyle privileges even further,' said Gaurav Hazrati, President, Financial Services, Tata Digital. Spotify India's MD Amarjit Batra noted that the partnership is designed to offer NeuCard holders more than just music. 'It's about immersive in-app features like Listening Parties, Radio, and offline experiences like artist-fan events — all through this subscription offer.' What Cardholders Should Know Eligibility: Offer is valid for existing and new Tata Neu HDFC Bank Credit Card holders. Auto-Renewal: Subscription will auto-renew after 4 months unless cancelled. Redemption: Instructions will be provided via SMS/email or the Tata Neu app. Limit: One redemption per user; standard Spotify Premium terms apply. For users already using Spotify's free tier or exploring Premium for the first time, this is a smart, low-risk way to test out a subscription model without upfront costs. And with music subscriptions often forming a recurring digital expense, four free months of Spotify Premium can translate to ₹500–₹800 in actual savings. For Tata NeuCard users, it's a value-add that ties banking and entertainment into a cohesive lifestyle benefit, part of a broader trend where fintech players are bundling experiential perks to drive usage and loyalty.
