Spotify Wrapped features audiobooks for first time: See top titles
For many music listeners, Spotify Wrapped is one of the best days of the year. This year, readers have something to celebrate too.
For the first time, Spotify Wrapped features an editorial hub for top audiobooks and USA TODAY has the first-look at the top 10 audiobook authors for 2024.
This year’s Wrapped marks Spotify’s first full year offering 15 monthly audiobook listening hours under its Premium Plan. And while readers won’t see their top audiobooks in their personal Wrapped, they will get to see top picks from Spotify audiobook editors, including best narration, breakout audiobooks and across categories like mystery, thriller, romance, self-help and more.
Spotify Wrapped reveals global top audiobooks in 2024
Sci-fi, fantasy and romance were the top audiobook genres this year, Spotify executives unveiled at a press briefing in New York City Tuesday. Many of the top audiobooks reflect current BookTok obsessions – Sarah J. Maas’ romantasy series “A Court of Thorns and Roses” snags three spots on the top 10 and “It Ends With Us” was the fifth most listened-to audiobook in 2024.
Check out: USA TODAY’s weekly Best-selling Booklist
Spotify has notched a key demographic for romance and fantasy listeners – 60% of audiobook listeners are between ages 18 and 34, says Rebecca McGuire, manager of audiobook partnerships and licensing.
These are the global top 10 most listened-to audiobooks in Premium in 2024:
- “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
- “The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien
- “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy
- “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas
- “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover
- “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene
- “A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas
- “A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin
- “Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
But it’s not all buzzy titles – the top authors are a mix of recent favorites and classic literary giants. These 10 authors are Spotify’s most listened-to in 2024, according to data provided exclusively to USA TODAY:
- Sarah J. Maas
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- Stephen King
- Colleen Hoover
- Freida McFadden
- George R.R. Martin
- Robert Greene
- Emily Henry
- Jennette McCurdy
- Hannah Grace
Book-to-screen adaptations score big on Spotify Wrapped
Spotify also saw a listening spike in the year’s biggest book-to-screen adaptations, like “Wicked,” “The Idea of You,” “It Ends With Us” and “Bridgerton.”
Audiobook listens for “The Perfect Couple” by Elin Hilderbrand increased over 1,100% after the trailer for the series adaptation dropped. “Wicked” audiobook listens saw a 1,400% increase after its premiere weekend, Spotify told USA TODAY.
Sixty-six of the platform’s top 100 audiobooks in the U.S. have been greenlit or already adapted for screen, Spotify says.
Authors get their own audiobook Wrapped this year
Every year, artists get a unique Wrapped with statistics about their top listeners. For the first time, authors with audiobooks on Spotify will get a curated Wrapped experience too.
In “Wrapped for Authors,” authors will see overall statistics as well as a breakdown of listener demographics like geographic location, age and even what genres of podcasts and music they also listen to. A favorite feature of McGuire’s is the “first time listener” statistic – authors can see what percentage of their listeners tried an audiobook for the first time because of their title.
“The fun thing about Wrapped is that we’re able to pull more interesting and fun and playful insights about our authors’ listenership,” McGuire says.
How do audiobooks work on Spotify?
Spotify Premium subscribers can access 15 hours of audiobook listening for free per month. They have the option to purchase additional “top-up” hours if they go over. There are over 250,000 books included in Spotify’s Premium subscriber catalog. For Family plan subscribers, only the plan manager can access audiobooks.
Some books have a lock over the play button, which means they aren’t included in Premium. You can’t buy these audiobooks in the app – you have to purchase them on Spotify’s website before they appear on your mobile device. Anyone can purchase these books; you don’t have to be a Spotify Premium member.
McGuire recommends looking for those titles that are “really meant to be listened to,” like cinematic fantasies, celebrity memoirs or self-help books. Audiobooks in your daily routine can serve as a distraction, a boost of productivity while you do your household chores or adding another book to your yearly reading goal while you’re on the go.
“It’s been a total game changer, both in how many books I’m able to read and listen to, and also how much I’m enjoying being able to try so many different types of books and genres,” McGuire says.
Female artists reign supreme:Spotify Wrapped 2024 shows defining trend
Looking for your next great read? USA TODAY has you covered.
Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend. Want a buzzy new literary fiction title? Read our review of “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney. Are mysteries your thing? Try these titles similar to “Verity” by Colleen Hoover or see if you’re brave enough for one of our favorite horror novels. Or if you want something with lower stakes and loveable characters, see if a “cozy mystery” or “cozy fantasy” book is for you. If you want the most popular titles, check out USA TODAY’s Best-selling Booklist.
