Spotify is making it easier for authors to release AI-narrated audiobooks thanks to a new partnership with ElevenLabs. This collaboration enables authors to use ElevenLabs' AI voice software to create audiobook recordings, hence expanding Spotify's support for synthetic voice narration. The streaming giant recognizes the potential of digital voice technology to make audiobook creation more accessible and cost-effective, especially for independent authors and older titles that would otherwise be inaccessible in audio format.
AI-narrated audiobooks were already permitted on Spotify under certain restrictions. Its audiobook distribution platform, Findaway Voices, previously collaborated with Google Play Books to provide digitally recorded content from certain partners. Spotify could see a huge increase in synthetic voice material now that ElevenLabs, one of the most well-known AI voice producers, has joined the team.
ElevenLabs offers narration in 32 languages and provides authors with control over voice selection and intonation. While the free version only permits 10 minutes of text-to-voice conversation each month, premium plans expand this limit, with a $99 monthly Pro subscription allowing for up to 500 minutes of narration—approximately the length of a standard audiobook.
Despite embracing AI narration, Spotify maintains that human voice recordings remain essential to the audiobook experience. However, it sees a generated narration as a means for democratizing audiobook production by lowering costs and allowing more authors to publish their books on the platform. To maintain transparency, all AI-narrated audiobooks will include the line, "This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice," in their metadata and descriptions.
Spotify's move into AI-narrated content is consistent with its overall objective of extending its audiobook offerings. Since acquiring Findaway in November 2021, Spotify has rapidly grown its audiobook portfolio, introducing 15 free hours for premium customers in the United States in November 2023. CEO Daniel Ek has emphasized that audiobooks are critical to improving user engagement, lowering churn, and diversifying Spotify's revenue streams beyond music and podcasts.
With this latest move, Spotify is continuing its efforts to shake up the audiobook industry and make content creation more accessible while positioning itself as a major player in the evolving digital audiobook market.