This acquisition positions Spotify to revolutionize the space in the same way as music and podcasts, powering content to reach a wide audience on its global platform. "Together, Spotify and Findaway will accelerate Spotify’s entry into the rapidly growing audiobooks industry, enabling faster innovation and bringing audiobooks to Spotify’s hundreds of millions of existing listeners," the acquisition announcement states.
Findaway’s technology infrastructure will enable Spotify to quickly scale its audiobook catalog, simultaneously providing new avenues for publishers, authors and independent creators to reach new audiences around the globe. Findaway started audiobook business in 2005 with Playaway, a built-for circulation, pre-loaded audiobook player, later evolving to become a leading digital audiobook distribution with AudioEngine, and the most trusted self-publishing platform for independent authors with Findaway Voices. Additional offerings of end-to-end audio production by Audioworks, and publishing under their OrangeSky Audio imprint have further solidified Findaway’s position in the audiobook industry.
“It is Spotify’s ambition to be the destination for all things audio both for listeners and creators. The acquisition of Findaway will accelerate Spotify’s presence in the audiobook space and will help us more quickly meet that ambition,” said Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s Chief Research & Development Officer. “We’re excited to combine Findaway’s team, best in class technology platform, and robust audiobook catalog, with Spotify’s expertise to revolutionize the audiobook space as we did with music and podcasts.”
“Together with Spotify we have the opportunity to innovate and democratize the audiobook ecosystem,” says Findaway Founder & CEO Mitch Kroll. “We founded Findaway with the recognition of the power of the spoken word through audiobooks and the unique opportunity to empower storytellers and connect them with listeners. We look forward to combining our leading technology tools and world-class team with the reach of Spotify’s platform to provide an enhanced audio experience for creators, publishers and listeners around the world.”
The company will maintain its headquarters in Solon, Ohio and will continue to be led by Findaway Founder & CEO Mitch Kroll, who will report to Nir Zicherman, Head of Audiobooks at Spotify. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021 and is subject to regulatory review and approval.
Spotify is the leading audio streaming subscription service with a community of more than 381 million Monthly Active Users and 172 million Premium (paid) Subscribers. With a presence in 178 markets, and more than 70 million tracks including 3.2 million podcast titles, it has transformed the way people access and enjoy music and podcasts, migrating from the previous file download model.
www.findaway.com
www.spotify.com
