Spotify Tests Audiobooks With 'Frankenstein,' 'Jane Eyre' and Other Literary Classics (Exclusive) - Hollywood Reporter

Spotify on Monday released a small collection of exclusive audiobook recordings on its platform, a move that signals its interest in continuing to broaden its library of non-music programming.

The nine audiobooks that are now available on Spotify are all part of the public domain, but the original recordings are exclusive to the streaming platform.

The other titles that Spotify is releasing as part of the collection are Jean Toomer’s Cane, narrated by Audra McDonald; Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, narrated by James Langton; Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, narrated by Sarah Coombs; Nella Larsen’s Passing, narrated by Bahni Turpin; and Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage, narrated by Santino Fontana.

The popularity of audiobooks among Spotify’s German users was what first signaled to CEO Daniel Ek that the company should explore adding non-music programming to Spotify’s lineup.

In early 2019, he announced that the company would acquire two podcast companies — Gimlet Media and Anchor — as part of an effort to take advantage of “a massive audio opportunity.” The company has spent the last two years making a number of high-profile acquisitions, and inking exclusive or original podcasting deals with talent including Barack and Michelle Obama, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Joe Rogan.

and, in recent years, has begun to invest heavily into original programming and podcast content as well.

There have been signs that Spotify would look to take on audiobooks next.