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Findaway was acquired by Spotify Technology (Jun 2022) (see deal) and rebranded to Spotify for Authors (Jan 2024)— see Spotify for Authors for current status.
Brief
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Findaway

Findaway provided authors and publishers with a single platform to produce, distribute, and monetize audiobooks across the widest range of global retail and library partners, without exclusivity requirements.

Solon, Ohio, United StatesFounded 2004Parent: Spotify Technology

Last updated May 23, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment · Connections updated May 25, 2026

Industry
Audio Content Distribution & Publishing Technology
Business Model
SaaS / Marketplace
Target Market
SMB / Mid-Market
Employee Count
201-500
Revenue Range
$50M-$100M
Parent Company
Spotify Technology
API Available
Yes
Market Position

Was a leading independent audiobook distribution platform and primary alternative to Audible's ACX for self-publishing authors and independent publishers.

Overview

Findaway was a digital audio technology company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Solon, Ohio, that built one of the most comprehensive audiobook and digital audio distribution ecosystems in the publishing industry. The company operated multiple products under its umbrella, most notably Findaway Voices, a self-publishing platform that allowed independent authors and publishers to distribute audiobooks to over 40 retail and library partners worldwide, including Audible, Apple Books, Spotify, and OverDrive. Findaway also operated Playaway, a line of preloaded physical audio devices widely adopted by libraries and schools, and AudioEngine, a B2B audio content delivery platform used by enterprise clients. At the time of its acquisition, Findaway had established itself as a major alternative to ACX (Audible's self-publishing arm) for audiobook creators, offering broader distribution reach and more favorable royalty structures. The company served tens of thousands of authors, publishers, and content creators, and its library-focused products made it a trusted partner in the educational and public library sectors. Findaway's technology stack enabled seamless audio content ingestion, encoding, metadata management, and multi-platform distribution at scale. In November 2021, Spotify announced its acquisition of Findaway, which closed in early 2022, signaling Spotify's aggressive push into the audiobook market. Following the acquisition, Findaway Voices was rebranded as Spotify for Authors, integrating its distribution capabilities directly into Spotify's growing audiobook ecosystem. The Playaway physical product line was divested separately. The Findaway brand effectively ceased to exist as a standalone entity, with its core technology and team absorbed into Spotify's audiobook infrastructure.

Products & Features

Findaway Voices

Self-publishing audiobook platform enabling authors to produce and distribute audiobooks to 40+ global retail and library partners; rebranded as Spotify for Authors post-acquisition.

Playaway

Preloaded physical audio devices for audiobooks, podcasts, and educational content, widely used in libraries and schools.

AudioEngine

B2B enterprise audio content delivery and streaming platform for businesses needing embedded audio solutions.

Findaway for Libraries

Digital audiobook lending and distribution solution tailored for public and academic library systems.

Key Features
Multi-platform audiobook distribution to 40+ retail and library partnersAudiobook production marketplace connecting authors with narrators and studiosRoyalty tracking and payment management dashboardMetadata management and audio encoding/quality controlDRM and content protection for distributed audio filesLibrary lending integration with platforms like OverDrive and hoopla
Use Cases
Independent authors self-publishing and distributing audiobooks globallyTraditional publishers expanding audiobook distribution reachLibraries offering digital and physical audiobook lending programsEnterprises embedding audio content into apps and digital productsSchools and educational institutions providing preloaded audio learning materials
Customer Segments
Independent/self-publishing authorsIndependent and traditional book publishersPublic and academic librariesEducational institutionsEnterprise content platforms
Corporate history

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