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Spotify's Push Into Audiobooks Sparks Concern Among Authors

  • Bradley Tusk, an investor and author, is backing new US effort
  • Coalition of Concerned Creators is demanding more transparency

Spotify began offering complimentary audiobooks to millions of customers in October as part of their monthly subscriptions.

Photographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg

Spotify Technology SA’s big leap into audiobooks is facing a backlash from US authors who fear they’ll be short-changed by the streaming giant.

Spotify began offering complimentary audiobooks to millions of customers in October as part of their monthly subscriptions. All of the so-called Big Five publishers signed on, with Penguin Random House LLC saying it was “excited” to place titles on the service.