YouTube is reportedly preparing to launch an audiobooks feature as soon as next year, according to The Wall Street Journal, and has been in talks with publishers over recent months. The platform already hosts many audiobook videos, though some feature public domain titles while others offer books that aren't legally supposed to be on YouTube. A growing problem is the spread of unauthorized book recordings made using AI, often narrated by robotic voices.
YouTube has yet to confirm that it is pursuing an audiobook section. The Journal reports the company has considered bundling the feature with its ad-free YouTube Premium service, which costs $16 a month. It remains unclear whether that price would cover a full month of listening, or whether YouTube would sell individual books, and the feature may not launch at all.
Success will depend heavily on YouTube's library and how competitive its prices are, since established services already dominate the market. Spotify offers Premium plans with 15 audiobook listening hours per month, while its Audiobooks+ add-on costs an extra $12 a month for another 15 hours. Its standalone Audiobooks Access plan costs $10 a month and also includes 15 hours, and individual books can be purchased through the Spotify Web Player.
Audible offers a $9-per-month Standard membership that provides one audiobook a month from its library, accessible as long as the subscription is active. Its $15 Premium membership includes one credit per month to buy a title to keep permanently, along with access to an all-you-can-listen catalog.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing