Spotify Launches Audiobooks in Sweden Amid Translator Credit Controversy

Spotify introduced its audiobook service in Sweden this week, granting premium subscribers access to an extensive catalog of hundreds of thousands of titles, including Swedish works. However, a controversy has erupted over the platform's omission of translator names in audiobook listings, which currently display only the author and narrator names.

Anja Gatu, chairperson of the Swedish Authors' Union, criticized Spotify for neglecting to credit translators, calling it unusual and a likely oversight during the service launch. She highlighted that according to the union's agreements, translators must be clearly credited in audiobook presentations; omission undermines their contributions.

Julia Levander, Spotify's Nordic communications manager, responded to the concerns by assuring that the company is actively addressing the issue and expects to rectify the missing translator information in the app within days. This development reflects the cultural importance of properly acknowledging translators in Sweden’s literary and audio industries.