Do not limit Audiobook listening

[Biff09]

I'm not an expert on the economics of audiobooks, but the reason that Spotify is great is that you get access to all of the music in the catalog and you can enjoy it as much as you like for a flat monthly fee.

Spotify has introduced all sorts of insane new problems by limiting the amount of time listened.  These are just a few examples:

- Do the hours count for multiple people on family/duo accounts?

- How to deal with getting cut off in the middle of a book?

Instead, make Audiobook consumption unlimited JUST like is done for podcasts and music, etc.

If you need to raise the price of the membership then do so.  If you need to make an "audiobook" add-on subscription then do so.

Do NOT limit the number of hours audiobooks or any other kind of media can be consumed.  It's a terrible user experience and is a complete about-face to the model Spotify used to become the dominant music streaming service.

[RBLeB]

I don't even bother with Spotify for audiobooks after its listening limits disrupted a book without warning. Spotify isn't listening to its customers, obviously. Suggest audiobook lovers take a look at Libby and Hoopla for better audiobook options, and they are free.

[JodyShip]

In what world does it make sense to charge a premium and then limit the listening hours only for audiobooks?

It's so stupid, what does it mater if I listen to music or audiobooks it's all listening .... 

That is a stupid cash grab. I cancelled my audible membership thinking I could use Spotify but nope 

[Babyblue1978]

what a rip off. $14 for 10 extra hours of book audio. That’s more expensive than a month premium Spotify. I will cancel my subscription if they do not make books unlimited time just like music. Get your act together Spotify. You are robbing your valuable customers. 

[AndyK1]

People listen again to parts of an audiobook for a wide variety of reasons, the most significant likely being falling asleep!

Other examples:

- rewinding before listening to remind yourself of where you were in the story

- to catch something you missed or to better understand something complicated

- when you realise you were focusing on something else, and missed a part of the story

Counting these activities towards your allowance has a negative effect on the listening experience: knowing there is a potential cost of doing this dissuades the listener from relistening, and makes listening to the book using a service that does not have this cost more attractive.

It is most easy to completely consume your listening hours by falling asleep. Yes, you can use a sleep timer, but that requires the ability to predict the future, and to remember to do this, and neither of these skills are common amongst those who feel sleepy.

In addition this feature is not available unless using your mobile phone, which many do not take to bed with them, listening instead on a smart speaker or TV for example.

I've listened to audiobooks for two months, and both months I've run out of time early for this reason. I can't bring myself to spend more than an e.g. Audible subscription to continue listening by adding "extra" hours which to me are not really extra, especially when it could happen multiple times a month. As a consumer that does not represent good value I'm afraid.

Counting audio you listen to towards your allowance only once, even if listened to several times, would solve this in a low friction and fair way.

[slicerman]

Hi.. seems the best way around all thus is to allow.. say 3 free books per month.. this would circumvent any short or long books ..timing issues..

BUT spotify arnt listening.. just arnt interested... rdgards

[SusanneWatson]

I subscribe to Audibles - and have been a voracious consumer of audio books for years. Podcasts and music come in either ahead or a close second so I have always valued both an Audibles and Spotify account. However - given that Spotify has recently increased their monthly fee by $4.99 and have LIMITED listening time - one is going to have to go - and I am afraid it will be Spotify unless they change their listening limit policy. It just isn't feasible to keep both. 

[LK37]

So frustrating to have to pay $13.77 to finish listening to an audiobook. I was very excited when I discovered the audiobook option, found dozens of titles I looked forward to listening to, listened to a title and 95% of another one, but had no idea there was a time limit! Makes me want to cancel my account overall. There needs to be an unlimited audiobook option. I would pay an extra $13.77 a month for unlimited audiobooks but the "top off" option seems more like a "rip off." Anyway, very disappointed in how this audiobook time-limit is handled. What at first seemed like a great development I'd integrate into my life, listening in the car, doing dishes, working out at the gym etc, now seems like an enticing $-grubbing con. 

[Carter2]

I love audiobooks but I  find the 15hr. limit is not nearly enough. The top up hours is too expensive.  I think spotify could have a monthly unlimited listening plan for around $15.00 a month. I feel there would be a lot of subscribers that would pay for that plan.

[katashiross]

As the family manager, I do not listen to audiobooks however another member of my family wants to listen to books. I think it would be a great idea to allow transfer of the allotted audiobook hours to other family members, therefore the included hours each month could be split between all family members.

[roberterae]

allow the listening to apply to all members within a subscription not just the plan manager like in the Premium Family Plan.