Spotify has introduced a new content format on its platform with the launch of narrated Articles, expanding beyond music, podcasts, and audiobooks. The feature is currently being trialled in English across markets where Spotify Audiobooks are available.
The rollout includes more than 650 long form magazine articles narrated by Spotify’s in house audiobooks team. The collection features stories from publications such as Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, Vogue, Variety, Billboard, WIRED, Vanity Fair, and Pitchfork.
Each narrated article is under two hours long and is included within Premium users’ monthly audiobook listening allowance. Free users can access the content by purchasing individual articles priced at $1.99 each.
Spotify said the format is designed to encourage users to engage with shorter listening experiences before moving towards longer form audio content such as audiobooks. The company also sees Narrated Articles as an extension of the audio experiences already popular on the platform, while helping publishers distribute stories directly to listeners through Spotify’s recommendation and personalisation systems.
The move builds on Spotify’s audiobook expansion strategy. Since launching audiobooks over two years ago, the company says it has expanded the service to 22 markets, reached tens of millions of new readers, and recorded a 60 percent year on year increase in listening hours. Spotify has also introduced features including Page Match, Recaps, and Follow Along as part of its broader push to make reading and listening experiences more accessible within everyday routines.
Colleen Prendergast, Licensing Lead at Spotify Audiobooks, said, “With Articles, we’re introducing long-form journalism in audio as a natural extension of the music, podcasts, and audiobooks people already come to Spotify for, focused on topics we know they love, By bringing shorter form content into the mix, we’re meeting audiences where they are to help build healthy listening habits, ultimately growing engagement with books over time.”
Julian Holguin, CEO, Rolling Stone, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Spotify in what we see as a natural synergy between two platforms that celebrate music and culture, This collaboration with Articles allows us to deepen the connection between our readers and the artists, stories, and features they care about, while also providing an opportunity for discovery. By making Rolling Stone’s journalism more accessible on Spotify, we’re excited to bring our storytelling to an even wider audience.”
