Spotify has released its first data analysis on the performance of its premium audiobook offering in Canada, which launched in April.
Since the launch of the offering, Spotify says it has seen a significant increase in listeners to French-language titles across Canada, with French-Canadian authors leading the way. The number of listeners of French-language titles has increased by 2461%. Data were calculated as of June 28.
The top five French titles most listened to in Canada include Aliss, by Patrick Senécal (pictured), which tells the story of a young, outgoing and intelligent girl who, at the age of 18, decides it is time to leave her family to go live in the metropolis; Hell.com, by Patrick Senécal, about one of Quebec’s richest businessmen who becomes a member of a secret website where anything is possible for those who use it; Le parloir, by Eric Thibault and Félix Séguin, which tells the story of how the dealings of Quebec’s most influential criminal of the last 30 years led to his downfall, as well as exposing the ramifications between the various factions of organized crime; Captives: crimes réels et disparitions mystérieuses au Québec, by Michèle Ouellette and Annie Laurin, which recounts 13 unpublished cases of true crimes and inexplicable disappearances in Quebec, in which behind each victim lies the tremendous pain of loved ones and unsolved questions; and MOM: Les Hells Angels 1994-2002, by Guy Ouellette and Normand Lester, about how a Montreal criminal ascended to lead Quebec’s Hells Angels, one of the world’s most dreaded criminal groups.
Spotify also reveals that three of the top five most played titles in Quebec are in French, which shows Quebecers’ affinity for local authors and French language, although they also listen to some global favourites. The top five titles in Quebec are Aliss by Patrick Senécal (French); I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (English); Hell.com by Patrick Senécal (French); A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (English); and Le parloir by Eric Thibault and Félix Séguin (French).
Overall, the most popular French authors in the country are Patrick Senécal, Morgan Rice, Eric Thibault, Félix Séguin, Blake Pierce and Ava Strong. For his part, author Senécal is benefiting from the growing trend of publishing backlist books on the platform, says Spotify. He is finding a new audience with his collection of backlist works, which includes Sur le seuil (1998), Aliss (2000) and Hell.com (2009).
Spotify’s Audiobooks in Premium offering gives premium subscribers access to 15 hours of audiobook content per month. In Canada, listeners can enjoy audiobook content in both French and English. Previously, listeners in Canada could purchase audiobooks on Spotify through its a la carte model.
The platform shares this data after launching a new feature in the country that allows non-hosted podcasters to upload videos to the platform. Creators had to register on the Spotify for Podcasters site before uploading video podcasts, but now, with the new feature, any creator can publish content from the podcast hosting service of their choice.
