Spotify Expands AI-Narrated Audiobook Offerings Through ElevenLabs Partnership
Spotify, the leading music streaming platform, has announced a new partnership with ElevenLabs to broaden its AI-narrated audiobook catalog. The collaboration will allow Spotify to accept audiobooks recorded using ElevenLabs’ advanced AI voice software, signaling a recognition of digital voice-narration’s potential to expand the audiobook market.
While AI-recorded audiobooks are already permitted on Spotify, current restrictions limit their distribution. Findaway Voices, Spotify’s audiobook distribution platform, only accepts digital audiobooks from specific partners, such as Google Play Books. Each recording undergoes a mandatory review process before publication.
The partnership with ElevenLabs, a prominent AI voice provider, is expected to significantly increase the number of synthetically voiced audiobooks available on Spotify. Authors will now have the ability to narrate audiobooks in 32 languages using various synthetic voices. ElevenLabs offers a free version with limited text-to-voice conversion capabilities, as well as premium tiers for more extensive use. A $99 monthly Pro subscription is required for 500 minutes of narration.
Despite embracing AI technology, Spotify maintains its belief in the power of human narration. The company views digital voices as a cost-effective solution for smaller authors and a means to facilitate audiobook creation for older, backlist titles. To ensure transparency, Spotify will identify AI-narrated titles in metadata and book descriptions.
This move by Spotify reflects the growing trend of AI integration in the audiobook industry, potentially revolutionizing content creation and accessibility for both authors and listeners.
