Spotify launches weekly audiobook charts in U.S. and U.K.

Spotify announced on Friday that it is launching Audiobook Charts for users in the U.S. and U.K. The new charts, which will be updated weekly, mirror the discovery mechanics the streaming giant uses for its music and podcast offerings. According to the company, the rankings are based on listening behavior and engagement on the streaming service. The charts will highlight the top audiobooks overall and by genre, and they are accessible to both free and paying users within the app’s audiobooks hub. Users can access the charts by tapping the search button, selecting the “Audiobooks” tile, and scrolling to the “Dive deeper” section.

The launch represents Spotify’s latest investment in the audiobook sector, a format the company has officially supported since 2022. Since then, the company has continued to build out its audiobook features to drive user engagement. These include “Page Match”—a tool that allows users to scan a physical book page to transition to that exact spot in the audiobook—and “Audiobook Recaps,” which provide short audio summaries of previously read content to help users catch up on what they have already read.

The company says the new Audiobook Charts will benefit both readers and authors by giving listeners a trusted way to discover popular titles, while also creating new opportunities for authors and the publishing industry to reach wider audiences. Duncan Bruce, Spotify’s director of Audiobook Partnerships and Licensing, highlighted this strategy. “As we’ve proven with Music and Podcasts Charts, when content is easier to access, discover, and enjoy, the demand grows,” Bruce said. “We are delighted to now bring that to audiobooks, to help provide even more ways for users, publishers, and authors to discover what’s trending on Spotify, and make books more connected with culture in real time.”

Beyond digital audio, Spotify is also preparing to expand into physical media. Under a separate, upcoming initiative announced earlier this month, users in the U.S. and the U.K. will soon be able to purchase physical copies of books directly within the app. This feature will be powered through a partnership with Bookshop.org, an online bookstore partner, marking a distinct step from the newly launched digital charts.

Why it matters

This move deepens Spotify’s integration into the publishing ecosystem, aiming to turn audiobooks into a culture-connected format by leveraging the same discovery mechanics that drove its music and podcast growth.