A few years back, Spotify expanded aggressively into audiobooks, positioning itself as a direct challenger to Amazon’s dominant Audible service. It was a natural move: Spotify already had the subscription relationship with hundreds of millions of listeners, and audiobooks were a logical adjacent category to music and podcasts.
The Quick Recap
- Spotify added audiobook access to its Premium subscription tiers, initially bundling a set number of listening hours per month.
- The move directly targeted Audible, the audiobook platform owned by Amazon, which had long dominated the category.
- Spotify’s pitch was convenience — one subscription for music, podcasts, and audiobooks — rather than competing purely on catalog size.
Who Owns Spotify?
Spotify is controlled by co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek through a dual-class share structure that preserves his voting power well beyond his economic stake. For the full ownership breakdown — including major institutional shareholders and how Ek’s control actually works — see our complete Spotify ownership guide.
FAQ
Does Spotify still offer audiobooks?
Yes, audiobook access remains part of Spotify’s subscription offering as the company continues competing for listening time across music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Who owns Spotify?
Co-founder Daniel Ek controls Spotify through a dual-class voting structure. See our full Spotify ownership page for details on shareholders and control.