Spotify accuses Apple of impeding its fledgling audiobook business

Spotify launched its audiobook business just last month with 300,000 titles, but is now saying that Apple is engaging in "anticompetitive" behavior that is impinging the new business, the company wrote in a blog post. It said that Apple rejected its audiobook purchasing system three times due to a violation of its rules. To comply, it had to hide the price of the audiobooks and do sales outside of the main app via an email link.All of that makes it harder for Spotify to compete, as users can't easily compare prices. "[This] harms not only consumers, but, this time, also authors and publishers who now find themselves under Apple’s thumb." It's also highly inconvenient for buyers used to simply clicking on a link to buy an audiobook.Spotify's audiobooks could have easily been accepted if the company had followed the App Store rules, Apple told The New York Times. "We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance," an Apple spokesperson said.Spotify could also have sold its audiobooks through the App Store's purchasing system, but Apple would then take a 30 percent cut — putting Spotify's audiobooks at a considerable disadvantage against Apple Books. "With our Audiobooks launch, Apple has once again proven just how brazen it is willing to be with its App Store rules, constantly shifting the goalposts to disadvantage their competitors," said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek.Spotify is already... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2022-10-26 07:02:10 UTC ]
News tagged with: #app store #european commission #audiobook

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Spotify accuses Apple of impeding its fledgling audiobook business'


8 Audiobooks Narrated by Natalie Naudus

Today's dive into audiobook narrators features an Asian American former opera singer who has narrated over 250 books. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-30 11:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #asian american #audiobook


Nielsen’s Look at Audiobooks in the United Kingdom: ‘Curiosity, Multitasking’

Nielsen's 'Understanding the UK Audiobook Consumer' sees the format's growth moving steadily forward in the British market. The post Nielsen’s Look at Audiobooks in the United Kingdom: ‘Curiosity, Multitasking’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-30 09:15:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post nielsen #united kingdom #audiobook


Obituary: Big Apple Founder Luc H.M. Kwanten

Belgian scholar and the joint founder and executive director of the Big Apple Agency, Luc Kwanten,died November 22, at his home in Shanghai, China. He was 78. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-29 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The UK’s Publishers Association Charts a ‘Steep Rise’ in Audiobook Sales

The United Kingdom's audiobook sales show an eye-catching 71-percent jump, January to June this year over the same period in 2019. The post The UK’s Publishers Association Charts a ‘Steep Rise’ in Audiobook Sales appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-28 17:52:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook sales #united kingdom #audiobook #publishers association


Do the Right Thing: Business and Personal Finance Books 2021

It’s time for a kinder, gentler C-suite, suggest consultants and coaches in these new books on applying the Golden Rule to the bottom line. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #golden rule #bottom line


It’s Not About the Latte: Business and Personal Finance Books 2021

New personal finance guides eschew penny-pinching admonishments in favor of empowering readers to shift their money mindsets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Great and Powerful Oz(zes): Business and Personal Finance Books 2021

These new books draw back the curtain to depict the individuals pulling the levers at some of the past century’s most powerful organizations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #past century


The Way We Work: Business and Personal Finance Books 2021

Covid-19 has irrevocably redefined the phrase “office space,” and new books assess what it means for the future of employment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Spotify unveils a new hub for Netflix soundtracks, playlists and podcasts

After doing the same for Disney, Spotify has launched a Netflix hub bringing all of the streaming service's soundtracks, playlists and podcasts into one place. While many of Netflix's soundtracks were already on Spotify, the new feature puts all content related to the service in one place. That... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-23 13:00:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #outer banks #star wars #non-fiction book


In New Filing, Publishers Accuse Internet Archive of ‘Stonewalling’ Discovery in Scanning Lawsuit

In a November 19 letter, lawyers for the plaintiff publishers outlined seven “categories” of requested documents yet to be turned over by the Internet Archive and accused the IA of "hoping to run out the clock” on discovery. Discovery in the case is due to close mid-December. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #internet archive


Auto-narration 'can help close gap' between e-books and audiobooks

Auto-narrated audiobooks will not replace human narration but will help "elevate" text-heavy books and help eliminate the gap between e-books and accompanying audiobooks, says Ani Attamian, head of publishing partnerships for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Google. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-20 01:45:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #middle east


Libro.fm Announces Their Top 10 Bestselling Audiobooks of 2021

Here are Libro.fm's top 10 bestselling audiobooks of 2021, including book club picks, mysteries, memoirs, nonfiction, and literary fiction. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-18 15:24:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary fiction #book club


iOS 15.1 review: Apple tries sharing

After iOS 14 shook up the iPhone’s interface with stackable widgets and an app library, iOS 15 at launch didn’t seem so dramatic. Given that several major features, like SharePlay, were delayed, little seemed different from the public beta. But now, with iOS 15.1, everything seems to be in full... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-12 15:00:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #physical activity #machine learning #actively seeking #latest season #ted lasso #lulu


Storytel extends into English language market with $135m Audiobooks deal

Streaming company Storytel has signed a deal to acquire Audiobooks.com from owner KKR for $135m (£101m), extending its reach into English language audio market. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-12 01:57:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Pushkin Industries Pushes Audiobook Conventions

The audio producer, founded in 2018 by author Malcolm Gladwell and former Slate Group chairman and editor-in-chief Jacob Weisberg, has built a slate of more than 25 podcasts since its launch, and is ramping up audiobook production. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook production #audiobook


Zenith wins consolidated Confused.com, Uswitch and Zoopla media business

Combined accounts worth £53m in annual billings in 2020, according to Nielsen data. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2021-11-03 11:07:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nielsen data #nielsen


Polish Business Book Publisher Looks for Foreign Expansion

The focus of Poland's MT Biznes is on small companies' needs. A title the house has translated for sales in the UK has gone well. The post Polish Business Book Publisher Looks for Foreign Expansion appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-01 15:41:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publisher


Nigerian poet Shoneyin accuses UK publishers of hanging on to African rights

British publishers must not hang on to rights they cannot exploit, Nigerian poet and novelist Lola Shoneyin told delegates at a session on decolonisation at a publishers conference in at The Sharjah International Book Fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-31 15:54:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #british publishers


Let’s talk about audiobooks: best narrators, best listening speeds and why we like them to begin with

Does listening to an audiobook while working hinder or enhance productivity? Let’s discuss. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-30 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook


5 Audiobooks to Catch Up on the 2021 Pulitzer Winners and Finalists

A Pulitzer Prize all but guarantees a book a wider audience. Not so long ago it could also mean a new edition as an audiobook. A look at the winners and finalists of the 2021 Pulitzers, however, shows how thoroughly readers, publishers, and authors have embraced this alternate form of reading.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-10-22 08:50:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wider audience #long ago #pulitzer prize