Spotify Sells Books, Snap Loses Users, Steam Machine Stalls

Spotify Expands into Physical Book Sales, Adds Audiobook Features

Spotify announced its expansion into physical book sales and introduced new audiobook features, marking a significant shift for the digital platform, according to TechCrunch on Thursday. The move aims to enhance the audiobook experience for users in the U.S. and the UK, who will soon be able to purchase physical copies of audiobooks directly through the app.

The company is partnering with Bookshop.org to facilitate the sale of physical books, supporting local retailers in the process, The Verge reported. This partnership is set to launch in the Spring of 2026.

In addition to physical book sales, Spotify introduced two new features designed to improve audiobook accessibility. One feature, called Page Match, allows users to scan a page from a physical book using their smartphone camera, instantly syncing to that spot in the audiobook, according to The Verge. "Point your camera at a page, and the Spotify app uses computer vision to match text with audio," Terrence O'Brien of The Verge explained.

Spotify also announced that Audiobook Recaps, previously an iOS-only feature, will now be available on Android devices, TechCrunch noted.

These announcements come as Spotify users face another price hike, TechCrunch reported. The expansion into physical books and the introduction of new audiobook features may serve to soften the blow of the price increase for book lovers.

The move into physical book sales represents Spotify's effort to diversify its offerings and cater to a broader audience, solidifying its position in the audiobook market.