What will audiobook market growth look like?

Key takeaways from this blog:

• Audiobooks are evolving into something far more than just a listening experience
• With its integration into the wellness sphere and innovations in immersive audio, the medium is carving out new paths
• MIDiA examines the evolution of audiobooks and the possibilities ahead for the growth of audiobooks

Over the past couple of decades, audiobooks have undergone a quiet metamorphosis.

The early days where audiobooks were seen merely as a functional alternative to physical books came and went. This was followed by an era where audiobooks were just as enticing as the physical copy.  Something that fans would want to collect alongside the print for a special and complementary experience (looking at you, Harry Potter series narrated by Stephen Fry).

Fast forward to today, and audiobooks have emerged as a distinct storytelling medium, a multifaceted tool that is reshaping how we connect with narrative. With advancements in wellness integration, immersive audio experiences, and industry leading investment the future of audiobooks feels both promising and excitingly uncertain. With so many new ideas emerging in the audio space, the question is not whether the industry will grow, but to what extent.

Wellness integration: beyond bedtime stories

From the early days, audiobooks have naturally aligned with wellness. The most obvious example is their use as sleep aids. Just as bedtime reading has long supported healthy nighttime routines, audiobooks have neatly slotted into this space. So much so that dedicated sleep stories now feature prominently in wellness apps, and every audiobook app worth its salt has a ‘sleep’ section.

However, the potential for interconnectivity between wellness and the spoken word extends far beyond this. Mindfulness narratives are emerging that blend fiction with guided meditation techniques, creating hybrid experiences that relax listeners while maintaining engaging storylines. Therapeutic storytelling takes this further, incorporating clinically informed structures and pacing designed to reduce anxiety or improve focus.

The most cutting-edge developments explore biometric adaptation, where stories could adjust their tone and rhythm in real-time based on physiological feedback from wearable devices. This evolution positions audiobooks as a personalised wellness resource that meets modern consumers' demand for media that supports mental health rather than impedes it.

Immersive audio experiences: multi-person narratives and beyond

Technological advances could also make audiobooks far more immersive than ever before. Single voice narration was once the status quo, but we are beginning to see the introduction of full-cast productions. Each character is distinctly voiced by a different actor with accompanying soundscapes that immerse the listener in the story, rather than simply reciting it to them.

Advancements in spatial audio technologies are likely to take this sense of immersion further. A whisper might seem to come from just behind the ear or a crowded scene might place the listener right in the middle of the action.

Theoretically these innovations could push audiobooks one step further in their evolutionary path transforming them from simple recordings into dynamic, standalone experiences.

Industry leading investment: paying attention to the big players

As with anything to do with tech or media, the logic is that if a big player makes a move, it is important to, at the very least, take notice of it.

Apple’s 2025 redesign of Apple Books transformed it from a basic e-reader app into a serious competitor to both Audible and Kindle. The updated platform offers competitive pricing, smoother payment systems, and more intuitive discovery features. However, Spotify’s strategy may prove even more disruptive, having expanded its audiobook catalogue threefold in 2025.

In that year, Spotify introduced tiered listening plans, challenging Audible’s credit-based system. Spotify believes its new models encourage exploration, with listeners not stuck to one credit or one audiobook experience at a time, thereby increasing discoverability. That same year also saw Spotify partner with independent publishers such as Crooked Lane and Podium in a clear move to expand its offering.  

What’s next: incremental growth or a new era?

The commercial incentive for these moves is clear. According to Statista, global audiobook revenue is projected to reach $9.85 billion by the end of the year, with the global audiobook readers anticipated to reach 1.8bn users by 2029.

Audiobooks have shed their reputation as merely books on tape. They now function as an entirely new media experience, where they can function as wellness aids, immersive experiences, and testing grounds for technological innovation. For these reasons, it seems that steady growth feels certain while potential exists for something far more transformative.