Spotify continues to grow its audiobook library and is making it easier for authors to create and distribute them. The company has partnered with ElevenLabs, a developer of AI voiceovers, to allow the upload of audiobooks generated with synthetic voices. The system supports 32 languages and offers a variety of digital voices for narration.
Authors can upload these AI-narrated books through Findaway Voices, an audio distribution platform owned by Spotify. To do this, an author must first create an audio file using ElevenLabs by selecting a suitable digital voice. Then, the finalized audio package is downloaded and uploaded to Findaway Voices, which distributes the audiobook.
Once submitted, the content undergoes a review process. If approved, the audiobook becomes available on Spotify and other supported platforms. To ensure transparency, all AI-narrated books will be labeled with the disclaimer: “This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.” This allows listeners to distinguish between human and synthetic voiceovers.
Benefits of AI-Narrated Audiobooks
AI narration opens new opportunities for independent authors and publishers by significantly reducing audiobook production costs. Traditional recordings with professional narrators require substantial investment, while digital voices provide a more affordable alternative.
This technology also helps make rare and archival books more accessible—many of which were previously difficult to produce due to resource constraints. Additionally, AI speeds up the publication process, as creating and uploading an audiobook with synthetic narration takes far less time than a studio recording.
AI and Human Narration in Audiobooks
Spotify emphasizes its ongoing support for live narration but believes AI technology can assist authors and publishers in releasing content faster and reaching wider audiences, notes NIXSolutions. While synthetic voices provide cost-effective solutions, professional voice actors remain an integral part of audiobook production.
As AI technology evolves, the audiobook industry continues to adapt. We’ll keep you updated on new developments and integrations in this space.