What to know
- Spotify is adding new controls and features to improve the audiobook listening experience on the platform.
- Some of the new features include a Sleep Timer, Playlists for audiobooks, and an experimental Follow-Along feature to enhance audiobook listening.
- Other features include short video clips for audiobooks, author bio pages, and countdown pages to track upcoming releases.
Undoubtedly, the audiobook listening experience on Spotify is nowhere close to what’s possible on Audible (and other audiobook services). But Spotify isn’t going to let that be the case for long. To improve the audiobook listening experience on the platform, the company is bringing several new features to the platform that are not just useful but can actually change the way you interact with audiobooks.
Sleep Timer
For starters – and perhaps the most useful of the lot – the Spotify audiobook player now has a Sleep Timer. The feature is a welcome addition for those who like to doze off while listening to the audiobook. Not only will it ensure you don’t miss any important plot points but, and perhaps more importantly, it’ll prevent your limited monthly listening hours from going to waste.
Access the sleep timer from the Now Playing screen and select how long you want the audiobook to play before it automatically stops.
Audiobook playlists
The ability to create playlists for audiobooks is another useful feature that will make it easier to keep your audiobook library organized. From audiobooks you can’t get enough of to recent discoveries that you can add to your TBR list, playlists will allow you to curate your own collection of audiobooks and access them whenever you need to (like Goodreads for audiobooks).
Audiobook playlists has been a much-requested feature on Audible as well. But it looks like Spotify has gained the upper hand on this front. Spotify will also publish audiobook playlists curated by their audiobook editorial team, which would provide another way to discover your next read (listen?).
Follow-Along
Follow-along is one feature that all audiobook lovers would want to keep an eye on. According to Spotify, “Follow-Along is an immersive visual experience that allows you to see time-synchronized illustrations, photos, and graphics as you listen to an audiobook.”
These enhancements will only be available on select titles from the ‘extras’ section of the audiobook. From the looks of it, these enhancements could come up on your lock screen as well so you won’t even have to unlock your device to check them out.
It’s a fantastic idea that can enhance the story and make audiobook listening a more engaging activity (imagine reading fantasy with Follow-Along!).
Follow-Along is more of an experimental feature that is still being tested. But if Spotify manages to pull this off with any degree of success, it has the potential to be a game changer for audiobooks.
Author Pages and Countdown Pages
There will soon be Author pages on Spotify that will host dedicated profiles for audiobook authors. Like Artist pages, these pages will include the author’s bio, their background, and a catalog of their works. Though currently a pilot program available to only a select number of authors, Author Pages will also make it easy for listeners to explore an author’s previous works and highlight upcoming releases.
Speaking of upcoming releases, there’s also Countdown Pages for audiobooks. This page will make it easier for listeners to find new releases, see how long before the title is available, and pre-save them so it’s available in their library once released.
Countdown Pages will also come in handy for authors, publishers, and narrators to promote their books ahead of release.
Video clips
Video clips are like trailers for audiobooks, or, as Spotify puts it, a book’s jacket. Currently still being tested, video clips for audiobooks are small video clips that you can watch to get an idea of what to expect from the book.
Submitted by the authors and the publishers, these clips can be anything from an interview snippet, a recording session, or just a video message from the writer. It’s an interesting way to sell a book, though it’s still being tested and may be a while away.
All these Spotify audiobook features are great additions that can take the listening experience to the next level. Whether they’re already available or still in the works, these features could well change the way we consume audiobooks.
