Navigating Recent Changes in Spotify/Findaway Voices' Terms of Use: Exploring Alternatives

In recent updates to its Terms of Use, Findaway Voices, a service by Spotify, has introduced significant changes regarding User Content, raising concerns among authors. 

However, authors should know they are still in control of their work, and there are alternative distribution solutions and strategies for those seeking to protect their rights and expand their reach in the global audiobook market.

What Are the Changes in Spotify/Findaway Voices Terms of Use

As of February 16, 2024, Spotify’s Terms of Use regarding the User Content state the following:

"You retain ownership of your User Content when you post it to the Service. However, in order for us to make your User Content available on the Spotify Service, we do need a limited license from you to that User Content. Accordingly, you hereby grant to Spotify a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, fully paid, irrevocable, worldwide license to reproduce, make available, perform and display, translate, modify, create derivative works from, distribute, and otherwise use any such User Content through any medium, whether alone or in combination with other Content or materials, in any manner and by any means, method or technology, whether now known or hereafter created, in connection with the Spotify Service. Where applicable and to the extent permitted under applicable law, you also agree to waive, and not to enforce, any "moral rights" or equivalent rights, such as your right to be identified as the author of any User Content, including Feedback, and your right to object to derogatory treatment of such User Content."

Note: Please keep in mind that these conditions might change in the following days, as they sparked heated discussions among authors.

What This Change Means

Key points:

Users retain ownership of their User Content when posted to the Spotify Service. However,

1. Spotify requires a limited license from users to make their User Content available on the Spotify Service.

2. Users grant Spotify a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, fully paid, irrevocable, worldwide license to:

• Reproduce
• Make available
• Perform and display
• Translate
• Modify
• Create derivative works from
• Distribute
• Otherwise use any such User Content through any medium, alone or in combination with other Content or materials, in any manner and by any means, method, or technology, now known or hereafter created, in connection with the Spotify Service.

3. Users agree to waive and not enforce any "moral rights" or equivalent rights, including the right to be identified as the author of any User Content and the right to object to derogatory treatment of such User Content, where applicable and to the extent permitted under applicable law.

What Authors Can Do

As with any other platform, you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket and publish wide to various other platforms. So, diversify your distribution channels and avoid sole reliance on a single platform.

If you don’t agree to these terms of use, you should take the necessary steps to protect your work.

How PublishDrive Can Help You

PublishDrive provides distribution to all major audiobook stores, just like Findaway Voices, without withholding the additional royalty fee of 20%. You will earn 25% more if you choose to distribute through us.

PublishDrive’s Audiobook Distribution Network

Available through Findaway Voices & PublishDrive

• Audible
• Google
• Apple Audiobooks
• Storytel
• OverDrive

Additional stores available only on PublishDrive

• CNPIEC
• Gardners
• Voxa
• Empik
• LazyJoy Audio

If you want to keep Findaway Voices as an option, you can enable the distribution channel from our platform, as we distribute to their network as well.