Spotify has announced the introduction of Countdown Pages for audiobooks, a feature that allows book enthusiasts to pre-save upcoming titles and count down to their release dates. This tool, previously available to music artists, has proven successful in generating anticipation and boosting day-one streams for albums.
Read: Spotify announces Countdown Pages for audiobooks
The new service aims to replicate the success seen with musicians. “Countdown Pages are an important tool to build hype with fans and drive day-one streams,” a Spotify spokesperson told How To Be Books. “We’ve seen the success and momentum this can build for musical artists, and are excited to introduce it to authors and publishers as well.” The streaming service states that on average, nearly 70 per cent of users who pre-save an album listen to it in the first week.
For instance, Taylor Swift’s album “The Tortured Poets Department” holds the record for the most pre-saved Countdown page in Spotify history, illustrating the feature’s potential. Swift’s Countdown page alone garnered views “in the millions,” signalling strong engagement from fans.
Read: Spotify audiobooks ‘reshape market’ with huge growth
Musical artists like Bad Bunny, Justin Timberlake, Kacey Musgraves, and Billie Eilish have also capitalised on this feature. Eilish is currently using a Countdown Page for her upcoming album, set to release on May 19, which is being updated with exclusive clips from her album and its creation process.
Spotify has already lined up several anticipated audiobooks for pre-saving, including:
- “Black Shield Maiden” by Willow Smith and Jess Hendel
- “I Curse You With Joy” by Tiffany Haddish
- “Lies and Weddings” by Kevin Kwan
- “Life’s Too Short” by Darius Rucker
- “The Paradise Problem” by Christina Lauren
- “Until I’m Yours” by Kennedy Ryan
How to use Countdown Pages for audiobooks
Using the feature is straightforward: listeners can search for titles on Spotify and click “pre-save” on the book’s Spotify page. Fans who pre-save the audiobook will receive a push notification upon release and find the audiobook automatically added to their library. The ‘More like this’ tab also offers recommendations for similar books already available.
Countdown Pages for audiobooks will be accessible in all markets where Spotify Audiobooks are available, supporting both a la Carte purchases and Spotify Audiobooks in Premium titles, ensuring a wide reach for authors and publishers looking to connect with their audience pre-release.