The Bookseller - News - Spotify's impact on author incomes uncertain, say trade insiders

Earlier this week Spotify released limited data, saying it had paid audiobook publishers "tens of millions" since making 15 free hours available to premium users in the UK, Australia and the US last year, with Britney Spears' memoir The Woman in Me (Gallery UK) the most listened to on the platform.

It stressed the data it has shared "underscores our commitment to incrementally growing the pie for authors and the publishing industry".

While a number of publishers, including Spears' publisher Simon & Schuster, declined to comment on Spotify's claims, a spokesperson for HarperCollins said: "HarperCollins is always keen to explore ways to reach new audiences through different business models for the benefit of our authors, and we are very pleased with results to date from Spotify."