ElevenLabs Launches AI Audiobook Publishing platform to compete with Audible

ElevenLabs has launched ElevenReader Publishing, enabling authors to create and publish AI-generated audiobooks directly on its ElevenReader app. This expansion follows a collaboration with Spotify, where ElevenLabs provides AI-narrated audiobooks to the streaming service. The platform is now accessible to all authors, offering an alternative to Audible, with a focus on higher royalty rates based on user engagement.

Authors maintain full intellectual property rights and can publish their audiobooks elsewhere, including Spotify. The ElevenLabs Studio offers enhanced control over production with voice customization, pacing adjustments, and multi-speaker options. Authors can upload ePub, DOCX, or PDF files to generate AI-narrated audio quickly, while listeners can choose their preferred AI voices within the ElevenReader app, and authors receive detailed listener analytics for content optimization.

A beta payout program offers $1.10 per engaged listener, though it's currently available only to U.S. residents. The platform supports English-only audiobooks, with plans to expand to 32 additional languages. Additionally, ElevenLabs is developing a marketplace for direct audiobook sales.