Family members showing audiobooks locked, even under premium family account

[cliffordboobyer]

Plan

Premium Family

Device

(iPad)

Operating System

(iOS latest)

My Question or Issue

Hi, when i browse my app under my account, I can see audiobooks which are able to be played. However when I use my kids premium family login under their iPad, same audiobooks shown as locked. What gives? Some kind of early restrictions or teething issues as it seems audiobooks for streaming is quite new.

[connornpeck]

if it was unlimited I "might" understand. It's limited to time. I don't listen to books. My wife does. Don't make me cancel and restart. 1 year later and still not fixed even after a big price increase. Not cool Spotify.

[Listener16171]

This is not only absurd but insulting.

[Clarrie]

When will this issue be resolved?

[Jcoyle321]

Spotify should seriously reconsider only managers getting access to audiobooks on family plans. I was very excited to hear about the access to audiobooks on Spotify, but was bummed to find that I could not listen because I’m not the manager of our plan. This perk is going unused because the manager doesn’t listen to audiobooks. A suggestion is to give the manager access to give others audiobook hours. That way someone who will use it will be able to. I’ve been a customer for years and I am disappointed. I will not be paying for my own account or buying audiobooks for an additional cost when the perk isn’t even being used on our family account. Spotify- please allow managers to give audiobook access to others on the account. Thanks! 

[Ninnymuggins]

I would hardly call this a solution.

I am the plan manager for my family and I barely listen to audiobooks, However, my Dyslexic husband loves them as does my inattentive ADHD son. Yet they have no access. 

I should be able to assign the audiobook feature to one of them at the very least, but ultimately, I think it should be a feature for all members on premium family. Very disappointing from spotify. 

[mluedke]

This limitation is confusing. At least allow us to transfer the audio book privileges to a different family plan member. As others have stated here, the account holder who manages the family plan may not be the one who wants the audio books.

Also, it’s been almost a year since the feature was announced. Is there any progress update that a Spotify employee can share here?

[AliciaE]

I have just realised this huge issue with Spotify.  I am the plan manager, but it is my husband who wants the audibooks.  Spotify  - obviously this is a huge issue with your product.  Please advise when it is going to be rectified!  Thanks 

[morwenna1]

It’s been almost a year since this feature was released and there is still no solution for enabling access for other family and duo account members. What is the timeframe for this being addressed please? 

[_tim1]

Can Spotify please refund all us users who are paying, but not getting full access to audiobooks. 

[Rapidi]

This is a horrible problem begging for a resolution. I added my wife to my account some time ago so we could have different playlists and recommendations for our music - a Premium Duo account. The same services for each, but separate. Recently, she dropped Audible, then we learned she can’t listen to audiobooks here. We don’t have 15 hours listening time for each, but it is absurd and angering that we can’t at least share the 15 hours since she listens to audiobooks and I don’t. And we can’t switch her to be the plan manager without going through cancelling and resubscribing, risking all the many playlists and recommendations we’ve built. What is so hard about allowing the sharing of hours or changing the designated manager? Simple fixes Spotify is obviously ignoring. Spotify is so big they apparently could not care less. 

[BCurr]

Hi

I am experiencing this problem but as the plan manager.

Background:

I have used three devices for listening to audiobooks as the plan manager, Mackbook Pro, iPad and iPhone.

I recently revived an old iPhon so I can use it to listen to books in the car (my car is old and does not have bluetooth so I can't use my main iPhone to listen as that is in use for satnav/directions).

On the old iPhone I am logged in with my usual account as plan manager but the audio books are coming up as locked and requiring purchase.

Has anyone else experienced this and how does one resolve this.

Thanks

[MossyMossy]

It’s absurd. This comes from our joint account. Even if they did 15hrs across all accounts in the plan if they are that bothered. We’re going to cancel.

[Will12345678911]

This is an unfair policy. I'm sick and tired of corporations trying to milk every cent out of loyal customers. I will be considering moving to Apple Music and Audible. It's much better than Spotify! You should at least give access to two family members so that both spouses can access audiobooks. I would really like to know which genius in the boardroom came up with this brilliant idea! What a tool that person must be!!!

[marcpagano]

this has been going on for over a year...they obviously don't find loyal customers important?! i aw hesitant to join spotify for just this reason. always looking for more money. they are never happy! same thing is happening in video streaming. tech giants are out of control!!

[Jenniejoystorm]

One year later from when this thread started and still no access for family plan members? Unacceptable. I’ll be switching away from Spotify. 

[mvandend]

Absolutely unacceptable to limit this perk to only the plan manager. Especially after raising the price because of the introduction of these premium features. Please fix asap, Spotify!

[vixkurtis]

Has this issue actually been looked into? I am having the same issue where I am the plan manager but my partner on our Duo plan wants to listen to audiobooks and can't. It would be nice to know if this issue is going to be fixed anytime soon. It seems it has bee going on for over a year with no resolution.

[ildefonse]

Unfortunately Spotify doesn't consider this an "issue" or "bug", but rather a "feature".

[pparky]

Still not resolved, guessing they have no plan to. Very disappointing treatment of loyal customers. I’m on a family plan and my partner is unable to listen to audiobooks. Time to cancel it seems. 

[GianSalvatore]

What a MASSIVE product failure. I would have paid extra to give my kids audiobook hours. You're leaving money on the table and pissing customers off.