Spotify introduces the ability to buy physical books in the US and UK

In February, Spotify made an interesting (and unusual) move when it entered the world of bookselling. Starting this week, the new look is legal life in the US and UK, allowing users to purchase physical books through the Spotify app.

This agreement is Bookshop.organ online marketplace dedicated to supporting local, independent bookstores. On audiobook pages within the app, users will now see a button labeled “Get a book for your bookshelf.” Clicking this button will direct them to the Bookshop page, which manages pricing, inventory, and shipping.

Currently, the ability to purchase physical books is only available on Android devices, while iOS users are set to gain access next week.

Today’s announcement reinforces Spotify’s position as a competitor to major booksellers, as it aims to transform itself into a one-stop shop for book lovers. The new offering is part of Spotify’s broader strategy to focus on profitability. To further this goal, the company has been increasing subscription rates in the US and Europe. He recently arrived 751 million monthly active audience.

In addition to selling physical books, Spotify introduced several other changes, which were also announced in February. This includes expanding its “Page Match” feature, which now supports over 30 additional languages, including French, German, and Swedish. Match Match allows users to sort a page from a title or e-book using their smartphone’s camera. This tool analyzes the content and directs users to the corresponding section in the audiobook.

Since the introduction of English audiobooks in February, Spotify reported that Page Match users download about 55% more audiobooks each week compared to other listeners. In addition, 62% of Page Matched audiobook titles on Spotify are books that users had never downloaded before.

Other updates include the release of “Audiobook Recaps” for Android devices. This feature provides a summary of the most recent content of the user, making it easy to jump back to listen.

The company also announced that “Audiobook charts“Similar to Spotify’s Music and Podcast Charts, now available in Germany, following its initial release in the US and UK These charts help users find their next favorite book by showing what’s popular and trending on Spotify.