In the mature English-language markets, where unlimited subscription is still a dirty word, audiobook subscription, more usually tied to the one-credit-per-month model, continues to grow even as print sales fall, albeit at a slower pace.


While print sales seem to be suffering this year wherever we look, audiobook interest shows no sign of waning, especially where meaningful unlimited subscription is an option.

Sweden, for example, where Boktugg covers a Mediavision report noting that over one million Swedish households now have an audiobook subscription.

The report references Q1 2022 and all importantly all of 2021, the post-lockdown year, with Boktugg making the point that this sustained interest in audiobook subscription shows the 2020 audiobook bonanza was not solely down to the extra listening time lockdown brought to the table.

Per Mediavision, Q1 2022 is up 14% on 2021 quarterly reporting, but with the revenue caveat that subscriptions are cheaper in 2022 because of the increased competition.

In the mature English-language markets, where unlimited subscription is still a dirty word, audiobook subscription, more usually tied to the one-credit-per-month model, continues to grow even as print sales fall, albeit at a slower pace.