Spotify adds an ElevenLabs tool to help authors make audiobooks

In short: Spotify is launching a new tool that lets authors create AI-narrated audiobooks inside Spotify for Authors, using technology from ElevenLabs.

What happened

Spotify announced an audiobook creation tool that uses ElevenLabs, a company known for making computer-generated voices. The tool will live inside Spotify for Authors, Spotify’s portal for writers and publishers.

Spotify said the feature will launch as a beta in June. Beta means it is an early version that is still being tested. It will be invite-only at first, and it will support English only.

Spotify also said authors will not have to sign an exclusive deal to use the tool. In other words, if an author uses Spotify’s tool to make an audiobook, they can still publish that audiobook on other platforms.

This builds on Spotify’s earlier partnerships for AI narration, including a previous tie-up that let writers submit audiobooks made with ElevenLabs. Spotify has also worked with Google Play Books on digitally narrated audiobooks.

Alongside this, Spotify said it is expanding Spotify for Authors to 10 more languages, including French, German, Dutch, and several Nordic languages. The company also plans to expand its Audiobook+ plans later this year, with higher listening limits, and new options for students and families. Spotify did not share pricing.

Why it matters

Audiobooks can be expensive and time-consuming to produce, especially if you need to hire a narrator and book studio time. Tools like this aim to make audiobook creation more like typing a document and choosing a voice (like picking a voice for your GPS). For listeners, it could mean more audiobook titles arriving faster, although the quality and labeling of AI-narrated books will be important to watch.

Source: TechCrunch AI