Spotify is expanding its audio empire in Denmark by adding over 300,000 audiobooks to its library, creating a new challenge for leading local player Mofibo but also fresh opportunities for the growing Danish audiobook market.
Spotify Enters the Audiobook Market
Spotify, the Swedish streaming giant known for music and podcasts, now lets Premium subscribers listen to more than 300,000 audiobooks. The collection includes works from major Danish publishers such as Gyldendal, Politikens Forlag, and Lindhardt & Ringhof.
The company’s goal is clear: it wants to be the first place people turn to for any listening experience, whether it is songs, podcasts, or now, audiobooks.
At the same time, the Danish audiobook scene already has a strong player in Mofibo, owned by the Swedish company Storytel. That platform has long dominated among Danes who prefer to listen rather than read.
Mofibo’s Calm Reaction to New Competition
Even though Spotify’s arrival could be seen as competition, Mofibo’s management remains calm. From their perspective, a powerful global brand entering the market can actually help the whole industry.
The company believes there is enough room for several players. Evidence from the Netherlands supports that view. When Spotify launched audiobooks there last year, Mofibo reportedly experienced one of its best years ever in the country.
In that light, the two companies may end up expanding the market together rather than cutting into each other’s share. This trend could mirror broader Danish innovations in sustainability and competition, as seen through initiatives like new Danish media Faktor.dk that foster creative growth across industries.
Danes Are Passionate Listeners
New data from Mofibo and research firm Megafon shows that 46 percent of Danes now listen to audiobooks. Crime fiction leads as the most popular genre, followed by general fiction.
Many Danes listen when reading a physical book is inconvenient. Typical moments include driving, cleaning, or commuting. According to the national media report *Medieudviklingen 2024*, Danes spend 28 percent of their total media time listening to music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks combined. That share is higher among people under 46 years old.
Spotify’s New Offer for Listeners
Spotify’s Premium subscribers will now get 12 hours of audiobook listening each month included in their plan. Those who want more can buy additional hours. The feature will also become available in Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Monaco in the coming months.
Experts believe this step strengthens Spotify’s ambition to keep users inside one platform rather than juggling several subscriptions. With most people already using Spotify for music and podcasts, adding audiobooks makes it easier to stay within a single app for everything audio-related.
At the same time, Spotify’s strength in algorithmic recommendations could shape how people discover books. Its ability to suggest content based on listening habits may encourage new consumption patterns similar to how its playlists changed the way people discovered music.
Publishers Welcome the Expansion
Major Danish publishers have expressed optimism about Spotify joining the local audiobook market. Many expect the arrival to attract fresh audiences and increase overall listening, especially among younger demographics.
Because Spotify’s reach is massive, it can introduce audiobooks to users who never considered listening before. That could make Denmark’s digital publishing scene even stronger in the years ahead. The situation resembles how collaborative approaches in other sectors, such as media and culture, have supported Denmark’s move toward digital innovation, similar to efforts described in this Danish media initiative.
In the end, Spotify’s entry appears less like a disruption and more like a boost to an already thriving audiobook culture. Both companies seem ready to co-exist in a market that continues to evolve with Denmark’s deep enthusiasm for listening.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: New Danish media Faktor.dk champions green transition
DR: Spotify åbner 300.000 lydbøger, men konkurrenten har is i maven
