Audible just opened a bookstore in NYC with no books in it. Curious what people think.
They opened something called the Story House on the Lower East Side. Free to get in, runs through the end of May. Instead of books on shelves there are these physical tiles you tap to sample or stream titles. They have a "Listening Bar" with staff who help you find your next listen.
I feel like Audible hears Spotify's footsteps. According to Spotify's latest earnings, they are growing their audiobook audience at three times the rate of the platform itself, mostly first-time listeners. Audible probably can't out-algorithm Spotify so they're trying to build something Spotify doesn't have yet — a physical space with human curation.
Smart move or just a marketing stunt? And does anyone actually think physical spaces move the needle for digital products?
Also, has anyone been? Would love to know what the experience is actually like.