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.

[dwighttbp]

Wow. What "brilliant" fool came up with the idea of limiting audiobook listening time?  Clearly someone or some committee with not nearly enough experience using your own product and very little regard for customer experience on your platform.  Unbelievable. The clear alternative to this idiocy is what the original poster suggested which is definitely worth repeating here: 

"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."  

Boom. Spot-on. 

Please correct this dumb limitation on audiobooks as soon as possible.  Otherwise you'll lose this subscriber and very likely many others. 

[KarlJBentley]

The idea of putting a limit is pure greed!! Aimed at getting people to purchase add ons, let's be honest Spotify is making billions each year, no need to limit audio books at all. Everybody in this world is already trying to shaft us in every direction for money, do the right thing and remove the limit 

[Zigglywoo]

Agreed I like having an audiobook on in the background so I get through the limit very quickly. The option to pay for more hours is ridiculously overpriced. I would definitely consider paying a slightly higher monthly subscription plan to include unlimited audiobooks but paying for a set number of hours is just ridiculous and I wouldn’t even consider it. 

[StrangerThanX]

I was so annoyed to find out there was a limit! I started a book around the beginning of this month and only just now heard about the limit. It's also really frustrating that only the plan manager gets fifteen free hours. If they're gonna have a time limit, the least they can do is give all plan members the same amount of time.

I understand that fifteen hours is generous/better than nothing, but how many people are going to buy books individually or buy extra hours anyway? It feels like they might as well get rid of the limit since I doubt many people will pay extra. I think including audiobooks as part of the premium subscription is a good idea and definitely a benefit over other music services, but I don't think people will pay extra and by imposing a limit, they're just annoying their current subscribers.

[xxkpxx]

Hi

I think limiting time on audiobooks is madness. Please change it to unlimited like music. 

Thank you

[AustinDrums1218]

They’ve gotta remove the time limit per month. I agree with other comments as well that there was no forewarning of a limit so I got cut off mid book, not knowing I’d have to wait a month to resume. If there needs to be an added monthly charge (premium + unlimited audiobooks), I think many would be willing to pay that. Teasing a service without making its restrictions clear creates a very frustrating consumer experience. 

[utkarsh2104]

I further suggest that, if you are introducing an extra payment option for a plan such as premium + audiobooks; please have the option of letting individual users top up over their family plans as well. Having to buy the family audiobooks would discourage at least me from the option otherwise.

[Heavy10mm]

This was such a weird and random thing for Spotify to do. I love Spotify. I signed up in their second month after North American launch, and I've appreciated their many innovations and improvements over the last 12 or so years. But 15 hours of books a month? I've been an Audible sub for many years, and just for kicks I went back to see how many of my titles were 15 hours or less. It came out to less than 10%. 

I also saw that someone said they paid $28 for 20 more hours. Why, when audible is only $18 a month? I look forward to seeing if Spotify can find a way to get my sub money away from audible, but as of right now, they're not even close.

[thetarabee]

Pure greed. 

[Strawberryshortcake]

Absolutely! It wasn’t made clear to me that it was limited until I was cut off in the middle of a book. I was so frustrated I paid for another service so I can get unlimited audiobooks. Spotify, please listen to your customers. We want unlimited audiobooks and if the responses on this post are any indication people are willing to pay an addition flat fee so long as it isn’t exorbitant.