Podcasts, concert tickets,and now, audiobooks.

But there’s a twist.

You’ll have to buy these titles one at a time, even if you have a Spotify subscription.

A smartphone displaying an audio book with headphones on top of it, both sitting on a kindle which is sitting on a book.

Distingué CiDDiQi / Unsplash

“For authors, it also looks like good things could come from the shift.

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The most straightforward explanation for Spotify’s interest in non-music audio is that it’s cheaper.

With audiobooks, Spotify would presumably create its own original recordings.

Someone wearing headphones and choosing an audiobook on their smartphone.

Kenny Eliason / Unsplash

I read about 100 audiobooks every year.

And I don’t have an Audible account or a Spotify account, I have a library card!

But that is not what’s happening.

Person laying in the grass listening to something with a pair of wired headphones.

mikkelwilliam / Getty Images

Instead, you have to buy them.

Not even Amazon does it this way.

But this will probably change in the future.

A switch to streaming might make more sense when Spotify fills out its own exclusive catalog.

All this adds up to a service that seems utterly pointless for users.

Well, everything except the actual purchase.

Kenny Eliason / Unsplash

Spotify may turn out to be an amazing audiobook service.

Audible might not be perfect, but it is at least proven.

mikkelwilliam / Getty Images

“I read about 100 audiobooks every year.

And I don’t have an Audible account or a Spotify account, I have a library card!”

audiobook fan and writerLaura Bergellstold Lifewire via email.

“This means I have free access to just about everything I want to read.

I have no idea why more people don’t use their library cards for audiobooks.”

Audiobooks can be fantastic, and it makes sense for Spotify to attempt to muscle in on the market.

If you like podcasts, you’ll probably also dig audiobooks.

They’re especially good on long journeys.

At least until we see where all of this is heading.