Spotify’s Basic plan returns to $11 a month by cutting audiobooks

Spotify has a new plan for US subscribers that keeps you on the old $11 monthly pricing — as long as you don’t mind ditching audiobooks. The new Basic tier includes the music and podcast content you get from Premium but without 15 hours of audiobook access, a recently added feature we suspect many subscribers don’t care about anyway. Spotify said earlier this month it would hike Premium prices to $12 per month, beginning in July. The Basic plan echoes one it rolled out in the UK last month. That one costs £11 per month compared to £12 for Premium with audiobook content. Some have suspected Spotify’s audiobook push has nefarious motives. Earlier this month, the National Music Publishers’ Association asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the move, going as far as calling the company’s audiobook integration “a scheme to increase profits by deceiving consumers and cheating the music royalty system.” The NMPA complaint claims Spotify will pay about $150 million less in music royalties over the next year because of its audiobook fusion. Spotify told Engadget it did nothing wrong and rejected the accusations. Spotify has been penny-pinching in other areas. It was reported last year that the company planned to overhaul its royalty model. One alleged part of that plan was to demonetize tracks earning less than five cents per month, pushing out some indie artists without established audiences.  Spotify also laid off around 9,000 employees late last year, citing “the gap... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-06-21 18:36:40 UTC ]
News tagged with: #association asked #audiobook integration #increase profits #deceiving consumers #$150 million #audiobook fusion #royalty model #alleged part #indie artists #established audiences #audiobook-free tier #account page #picking basic #basic option #audiobook

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Spotify’s Basic plan returns to $11 a month by cutting audiobooks'


Truss urged to invest in libraries and abolish tax on audiobooks

Authors and publishers’ organisations have also called on the new government to support author visits to schools and to introduce an online sales taxNew prime minister Liz Truss should abolish “the last remaining tax on reading”, ensure schools have funding for author visits and invest in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-09-07 08:06:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author visits #libraries


Area man named Bob Jablonski returns library book called Hitler 77 years overdue.

A New Jersey man named Bob Jablonski has finally returned Hitler to the local library. No, this is not The Onion. Bob Jablonski checked out the 1936 biography of Adolph Hitler in 1947, for a school book report, and presumably kept it all these years just to make sure the Allies had truly won... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-02 14:55:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #local library #adolph hitler


The 11 Best Book Covers of August

Another month of books, another month of book covers. The hazy rainbow trend is back for August, in among a series of bold and mysterious cover treatments. Featuring a whole lot of red and some I-wish-this-was-a-poster standouts. Here are my favorite book covers of the month—as always, feel free... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-31 12:51:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book covers #feel free #favorite book


Penguin cuts off Meal Prep King cook after misogynistic rant

Cookbook fans ‘heartbroken’ after John Clark’s derogatory outburst on social mediaThe cookbook author known as the Meal Prep King will no longer be published by Penguin Random House after he posted a misogynistic video on social media.John Clark, whose book The Meal Prep King Plan was a Sunday... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-16 17:55:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #instagram live #monday night #penguin random house #cookbook


Publisher of USA Today, other papers axes staff to cut costs

Newspaper publisher Gannett Co. confirmed Friday that it’s laying off some of its newsroom staff as part of a cost-cutting effort to lower its expenses as its revenue crumbles amid a downturn in ad sales and customer subscriptions Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2022-08-12 21:45:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #usa today #cut costs #newsroom staff #ad sales


The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs (shelftalker)

A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-11 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Germany’s Bookwire Reorganizes Its Audiobook Approach

'Pooling our energies even more to focus on audio,' Bookwire announces a restructured unit for audiobooks and podcasting. The post Germany’s Bookwire Reorganizes Its Audiobook Approach appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-08 14:22:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post germany #bookwire announces #audiobook


College textbook maker Pearson eyes NFTs to claim a cut of second-hand sales

NFT advocates often tout the technology's ability to grant the creator a cut of second-hand sales as one of its major attributes. Artists can earn from one of their digital creations years after first selling it. Others are looking at NFTs to earn a buck from the secondary market too, including... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-08-03 20:10:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #second-hand sales #nft advocates #major attributes #secondary market #analogue world #makes sense #pearson


Pearson plans to sell its textbooks as NFTs

Educational publisher’s move into non-fungible tokens is intended to claw back some of the income lost to secondhand salesTextbook publisher Pearson plans to profit from secondhand sales by turning its titles into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), its chief executive has said.Educational books are... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-02 15:37:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital textbooks #pearson plans #educational publisher #non-fungible tokens #claw back #educational books #pearson


3 new audiobooks for your summer playlist

Rosie Perez narrates Ronnie Spector’s new memoir. Also, the latest from Patrick Radden Keefe and Dan Fesperman Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-29 11:00:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #summer playlist


Listen To Me: Start Your Audiobooks All Over Again

Ever tried this audiobook tip? Why it might be worthwhile to let yourself experience the vibes then revisit with more attention. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-29 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook


San Diego Comic-Con Returns with Smaller Crowds, Big Smiles

It might have been hard to tell because of the mask requirement, but there were a lot of smiles at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, held July 21-24 at the San Diego Convention Center. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Returning to In-Person Book Fairs Cited in Scholastic’s Q4 Report

The largest children's book and educational publisher sees continued growth in its own school-based book fairs, and revenue-per-fair. The post Returning to In-Person Book Fairs Cited in Scholastic’s Q4 Report appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-07-22 00:30:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #largest children #children's book


10 New Full-Cast Audiobooks to Listen to for an Incredible Reading Experience

A full cast of narrators brings an audiobook to life in totally new and unexpected ways. Here are some of the latest you can't miss. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-21 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #full cast #unexpected ways #audiobook


Start with Mysteries, Thrillers, & True Crime If You’re New to Audiobooks

If you're new to audiobooks or unsure if they're for you, try a mystery, thriller, or true crime audiobook to get you started. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-20 10:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #true crime #audiobook


The Best Places to Find Audiobook Narrator Jobs for Beginners

Finding audiobook narrator jobs for beginners can really be hard especially if you don’t know where to start. Here’s where to find them. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-13 10:37:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook


June Religion Bestsellers: Sarah Young Tops; ‘The Stranger' Returns

Sarah Young’s ‘Jesus Calling,’ which just surpassed 40 million copies sold since its publication 18 years ago, takes #1 on the Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers list after having a banner month; Mitch Albom returns to #1 in Religion Fiction with ‘The Stranger in the Lifeboat.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sarah young #jesus calling #takes #1 #religion fiction


Macmillan Audio Releases Audiobook Version of Three Key Supreme Court Abortion Rulings

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling on abortion, Macmillan Audio is publishing an audiobook edition of three key cases. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #supreme court #macmillan audio #audiobook edition #macmillan #audiobook


While some publishers are slowing hiring plans, publishers like BuzzFeed and The Washington Post are not

As layoffs and hiring slowdowns sweep the industry, some companies like BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, Forbes, Bloomberg and Hearst are actively bringing new people aboard. The post While some publishers are slowing hiring plans, publishers like BuzzFeed and The Washington Post are not appeared... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2022-07-11 04:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hearst


Book Deals: Week of July 11, 2022

Random House buys a memoir about alcoholism and family, and Irish novelist Joseph O’Connor sells a historical trilogy to Europa. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals #memoir #random house