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While Spotify may have entered the audio game just a few years ago, in 2022, it appears to be doubling-down with a novel new partnership alongside Bookshop.org.
According to a Spotify press release issued Feb. 5, the streaming platform's partnership will allow users to purchase physical books through its app. Given that 73% of trade publishing revenue in 2025 was driven by the sale of physical books, that's nothing to sneeze at. Andy Hunter, Founder and CEO of Bookshop.org, was quoted in the release on the subject of the coming partnernship -- one which could be a boon for brick-and-mortar retailers of all descriptions.
“We are excited to see the impact Spotify’s scale will have for local bookstores. By meeting readers where they are and linking to Bookshop.org, Spotify is financially supporting indie booksellers with each purchase," Hunter said.
The good news for bookworms doesn't stop there, however. On the tech integration side, Spotify is introducing a new Page Match feature that looks quite intriguing for readers on the go.
"Instead of stopping or losing momentum when you need to hop in the car or go for a run, now you can keep the story going. Page Match is an industry-first feature that lets you move between physical books or e-books and their audiobook counterparts with just a quick scan," the press release stated.
Bibliophiles won't have to wait very long for this new functionality, either. The Page Match feature is expected to roll out to iOS and Android devices by the end of the month, with the majority of English-language titles supported at that time.
How Spotify's Page Match Actually Works
Here's how the feature works, as Mashable detailed:
- When using Spotify's Page Match (from book to audiobook): First, you open up the Spotify app, then you find your book within the app's audiobook section. Then, you tap "Scan to listen," allowing camera access. Simply take a photo of the page you're currently on, wait for Spotify to sync up with the appropriate timestamp within the matching audiobook, then tap "Play from here," or "Save for later."
- Conversely, when swapping from audiobook to a physical volume: You'll want to again open the Spotify app, and again find the audiobook in question. This time, tap the "Page Match" button, then "Scan to read," giving up camera access. It's as easy as taking a photo of any page in your physical book (or even your e-reader). Spotify will process the image, tell you where in the book you stopped listening, and refer you to the physical page number you'll need to find.
Owen Smith, Spotify’s Global Head of Audiobooks, was equally enthusiastic over the launch.
“We believe the future of reading or listening needs to be flexible and fit more seamlessly into people’s lives. Since launching Audiobooks in Premium, we’ve seen that when books are easier to discover and enjoy, demand grows, making Spotify a real growth engine for the publishing industry and changing how people find their next great read," he began.
"Now we’re extending Spotify’s discovery and engagement strengths across both audio and physical formats, so authors can build deeper connections with their audiences and books can follow readers wherever they go," he added.