New Delhi: Spotify is expanding beyond music and podcasts by introducing narrated long-form magazine articles on its platform. The new feature lets users
hear the written version of the story as an audio file: it makes it easier to enjoy magazine content while commuting, cooking, exercising and doing daily tasks. The feature is aimed at making audio storytelling more accessible to a broader audience, the company says.
The launch marks a move towards expanding Spotify’s audio library with over 650 articles in English. The stories are from top publications such as Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, Vogue, Wired, Vanity Fair, Pitchfork, Billboard and more, according to Spotify. The audio articles are under 2 hours in length and have been created by the in-house audio books team at Spotify.
Narrated articles combine human and AI-generated voices
Spotify claims to be using a combination of human narration and artificial voices for the stories. The company stated that digital narration will be clearly marked on articles to inform listeners if AI voices were used.
The feature is being marketed as a transition point between the traditional read and long-form audio-based material. Spotify has stated that shorter stories with narration could be a way to get listeners to discover more of its audiobook and podcast offerings. It’s the company’s belief that the format provides a more accessible path to full-length audiobooks for users who aren’t into them.
Premium users get access through audiobook listening hours
For now, the story-based articles are streaming on Spotify Premium for its listeners’ monthly 15 hours of listening to audiobooks. The content is still available to free tier users, with the option to buy individual, narrated articles at $1.99 (about Rs 190), one by one. Spotify has yet to announce any pricing for India.
The company also claims its recommendation and personalisation algorithms will enable listeners to be matched up with stories that are relevant to their interests. Spotify is hoping the feature will bring publishers benefits, too, because more people can consume magazine content than just read it.
Spotify continues its broader AI audio expansion
The launch follows Spotify’s ongoing efforts to invest in AI-powered audio tools and services. The platform has recently tested out features like AI-generated podcasts, an audiobook generation feature for writers, AI remix support, and more.
Narrated magazine articles are a logical step in Spotify’s maturing audio ecosystem, according to the service. As users seek out alternative ways to access information, the company believes narrated journalism may be a new category of content in addition to music, podcasts and audiobooks.
