Spotify is expanding its audiobook library by partnering with ElevenLabs, allowing authors to submit AI-narrated books. This move leverages ElevenLabs’ vocal AI technology to offer a cost-effective audiobook creation method, addressing a significant demand from authors.
AI Narration Opens New Doors for Authors
Spotify announced the integration with ElevenLabs, highlighting the demand for AI narration as a key driver. The platform allows authors to create audiobooks in 29 languages, providing control over voice and intonation. This offers a more accessible path for authors to bring their stories to life in audio format.
The Process: From ElevenLabs to Spotify
To publish an AI-narrated audiobook on Spotify, authors first upload their work to ElevenLabs. The platform’s AI generates the voiceover, a process that may require a subscription depending on the book’s length. ElevenLabs offers various subscription tiers, ranging from $22 per month for the Creator tier to $1,320 per month for the Business tier. An average audiobook is about 10 hours long, according to Speechify.
After the AI completes the narration, authors download the audio files and upload them to Findaway Voices, Spotify’s audiobook distribution service. Spotify reviews each submission before publication, ensuring quality control and accurate representation of the content. AI-narrated audiobooks will be clearly labeled for listener transparency.
The Spotify Audiobooks on the desktop app showing Lord of the Rings.
Potential Impact and Author Concerns
This new service has the potential to significantly increase the number of available audiobooks. However, it remains to be seen how established authors, many of whom are cautious about AI using their work for training, will react. Some authors, like Hugo and Locus award-winner John Scalzi, have contractual stipulations requiring human narrators for their books.
I have it as a contractual point that my narration has to be done by humans.
The Future of Audiobooks on Spotify
Spotify’s move to integrate AI-narrated audiobooks opens new possibilities for both authors and listeners. While concerns regarding AI usage in creative fields persist, this partnership offers a new avenue for content creation and accessibility within the audiobook market. The clear labeling of AI narration empowers listeners to make informed choices, shaping a more transparent and diverse audiobook landscape.
