Spotify launches audiobooks

• Spotify has launched audiobooks (in the US only). Audiobooks are an extra cost; and you’ll be taken to a website to purchase.

  • Spotify’s Nir Zicherman calls it an epic shift in a personal blog post. Former Spotify exec Michael Mignano calls it a big deal for creators in a Twitter thread, comparing it to Audible’s “effective monopoly” and flat-rate pricing model.

• First look: Podcast hosting company Captivate has just announced v2 of their dynamic content and monetisation engine AMIE. The tool includes new slot management, interface upgrades and tagging to allow podcasters to manage dynamic content quickly and at scale.

• Students in a school in Denver CO, USA have taken the school district to court for trademarking their podcast’s name. The school district appears to have applied for Know Justice, Know Peace: The Take as a registered trademark for an educational podcast and a logo for t-shirts, bags and umbrellas. The district is also accused of taking over the podcast’s social media accounts.

• Spotify’s The Ringer has added local sports podcasts, focusing on some of the biggest sports markets in the country: Boston, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. Off the Pike with Brian Barrett, The Full Go with Jason Goff, New York, New York with John Jastremski and The Ringer’s Philly Special are all now available.

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• The Democracy Group has announced a student podcast fellowship, designed to help high school and college students make their voices heard on topics in democracy.

• Podcast hosting company RSS Blue has added support for Alby and Fountain digital wallets for podcasting 2.0's value 4 value.

• Do you want a PhD in podcasting and audio journalism? Do you like rain? You can bring those two joys in your life together at the University of Tasmania in Australia. The highlight that full scholarships are available; applications close Oct 10. (Note: since it’s Australia, rain may be substituted with bushfires)

Moves and hires

• Two promotions at Radiotopia from PRX: Audrey Mardavich has been appointed Executive Producer, and Yooree Losordo appointed Director of Network Operations.

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