Streaming reshapes audiobook industry

The rise of streaming services like Spotify is changing how audiobooks are produced and consumed, pushing publishers to rethink their strategies. Spotify's inclusion of 12 hours of audiobook content per month in its subscriptions has influenced listener behavior, though it is still unclear if this creates new audiences or simply shifts existing ones.

High costs of audiobook production

Creating audiobooks is expensive, with an average cost of about 5,000 euros per title. These costs include actor fees, studio rental, and editing. Mathilde Davignon, who leads the audio division of Madrigall since 2023, highlights both the challenges and opportunities this presents. Madrigall works with major publishers like Gallimard, Flammarion, P.O.L, Denoël, and Minuit.

Spotify's impact on audiobook market

Spotify's entry into the audiobook market has significantly changed the landscape, according to Davignon. The platform's integration with music subscriptions has drawn in younger listeners, who are more likely to try shorter formats or artist autobiographies. Data from Davignon shows that Spotify is now the second-largest audiobook distributor in France.

Audiobook usage in France

According to the 14th Sofia / SNE / SGDL Barometer on book usage, published at the Paris Book Fair 2026, 10 million people in France listen to audiobooks, which is 19% of the population. The average listener is 31 years old, showing a growing trend in audiobook consumption among younger audiences.

Madrigall's anniversary event

To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2024, Écoutez lire, a Madrigall collection, staged a live performance of La réalité by Neige Sinno, set to music by the electro group Exil. This event was also an opportunity to explore new formats, including physical boxed sets with booklets and download codes, aiming to make audiobooks more visible in physical bookstores.

Exploring new audiobook formats

Madrigall has also experimented with audio comics, adapting Culottées by Pénélope Bagieu with Lyon-based studio Blynd. This project involved 18 actors and the voice of Marina Rollman. Despite the effort, it did not lead to the expected sales increase. Davignon describes such projects as "exciting but time-consuming," acknowledging the high investment required but recognizing their value as innovative endeavors.