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

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UK-US: Open Road’s Bloodhound Books in Audiobook Deal With Dreamscape

A UK-US deal, the Open Road-owned Bloodhound in the UK is to see Dreamscape produce at five audiobooks from its list monthly. The post UK-US: Open Road’s Bloodhound Books in Audiobook Deal With Dreamscape appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-01-19 20:47:58 UTC ]
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Tattered Cover Submits Bankruptcy Plans, Owes Nearly $4 Million to Creditors

On Tuesday, the ownership group that controls Denver's Tattered Cover bookstores filed the first part of its bankruptcy reorganization plans, citing some $3.1 million owed to unsecured creditors, including half a million dollars to its former CEO. A further $820,000 is owed to secured lenders. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-18 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Inaugural Eleanor Roosevelt Banned Book Awards Set for Next Month

On February 17, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center and the Fisher Center at Bard College will host the first-ever Eleanor Roosevelt Banned Book Awards; in addition, Judy Blume will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Bravery in Literature. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-18 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Audiobook Review: ‘Be Useful,’ by Arnold Schwarzenegger

The audiobook might be less, well, useful than it is entertainingly honest, unfiltered and even bizarre. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-01-12 10:00:27 UTC ]
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Amazon's Audible is laying off 5% of its workforce, marking another round of job cuts in tech

Amazon-owned online audiobook and podcast service Audible is laying off about 5% of its workforce Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2024-01-11 22:47:05 UTC ]
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10 of the Most-Anticipated Audiobooks of January 2024

With such an incredible range of choices of new audiobooks out in January, you’re sure to find an audiobook perfect for you. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-01-11 11:31:00 UTC ]
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Lit Hub Daily: January 11, 2024

How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rose up and won an underdog political victory. | Lit Hub Politics Lauren Groff talks about what it’s like to open a bookstore in Florida right now. | Lit Hub Selfishly curated experiences: İnci Atrek on how planning trips can inform novel writing. | Lit Hub Langston... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-01-11 11:30:15 UTC ]
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The German Audiobook Prize Names Its 2024 Shortlists

The 2024 edition of the German Audiobook Prize issues its shortlists in seven categories, covering books, radio plays, and podcasts. The post The German Audiobook Prize Names Its 2024 Shortlists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-01-10 12:31:32 UTC ]
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Audiobook Review: ‘How to Say Babylon,’ by Safiya Sinclair

Reading her audiobook memoir, “How to Say Babylon,” the poet gives voice to her Jamaican roots, her early ambition and the Rastafari father who would have quashed it. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-01-05 13:11:49 UTC ]
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Audiobook Review: ‘Alice Sadie Celine,’ by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

In “Alice Sadie Celine,” Sarah Blakley-Cartwright’s first novel for adults, a lauded feminist becomes entangled with her daughter’s best friend. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-12-22 10:00:21 UTC ]
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Audiobook Review: ‘Sing a Black Girl’s Song,’ by Ntozake Shange

A new volume of the Black feminist’s previously unpublished writing is read in audiobook form by a full cast of Black women. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-12-15 10:00:20 UTC ]
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Spotify is testing AI-generated playlists

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[ Engadget | 2023-12-14 18:18:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Sales Up Just a Smidge Through First Nine Months of 2023

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Deals of December 11, 2023

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[ Book Riot | 2023-12-11 16:27:41 UTC ]
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[ The New York Times | 2023-12-08 13:52:17 UTC ]
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Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado sell the first in a new series to Thomas & Mercer, Europa takes on International Booker finalist Robert Seethaler, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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This Week's Bestsellers: December 11, 2023

Dav Pilkey's fifth Cat Kid Comic Club volume, 'Influencers,' is the #1 book in the country. Plus Nicole "the Holistic Psychologist" LePera returns with 'How to Be the Love You Seek,' and Lynn Painter, who writes rom-coms for teens and adults, has her best first week yet with 'Betting on You.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Dion Graham and AudioFile’s 2023 Best Biography and Memoir Audiobooks

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[ Literrary Hub | 2023-12-04 09:08:51 UTC ]
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