Introduction
We are pleased to present this English version of the Bookwire Report 2024, which compiles data and draws conclusions from the Spanish digital publishing sector with the aim to provide transparency and information to the sector and support its ongoing growth.
The Bookwire Report offers a nearly complete representation of the market, including data from both the constellation of independent publishers in Spain, Mexico, and Latin America, as well as major Spanish publishing groups-Grupo Planeta, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins Ibérica-who have chosen Bookwire as their exclusive digital distributor.
We invite you to consult our report and to share it.
Welcome to the Bookwire Report 2024!
Bookwire
Ecosystem
In 2024, Bookwire distributed more than 1,500 publishing imprints from Spain, Mexico, and Latin America, totaling 192,000 titles: 174,000 ebooks and 18,000 audiobooks.
We estimate that by 2025, the total market for ebooks in Spanish will rise to 235.000 titles* and to 27,000 for audiobooks.
Growth of Digital Titles
Published in 2024
In 2024, Spanish readers had access to 12,99% more ebook titles than in 2023.
This growth was led by publishers in the United States publishing in Spanish, with a 19% increase in their catalog.
Digital catalogs from Latin America publishers ranked second in growth with 15%.
Publishers based in Mexico publisehd 12% more ebooks.
While publishers located in Spain released 10% more ebooks than the previous year, matching the growth recorded in 2023.
The Digital Market at a Glance: 8 Keys to Understanding 2024
1. Pricing Strategies: Key to Ebook Profitability
Unit sales not only account for 87,55% of revenue but also increased their share of total revenues by 5% in 2024.
The relevance of pricing strategies has increased. Publishers achieving greater profitability are those working with targeted discounts, whether triggered by sales channels or by the publishers. Dynamic pricing practices , such as lowering backlist prices once the sales curve has declined, proved to be very effective.
2. The Subscription 'Momentum': Essential for the Independent Sector
Subscription platforms continue to be a relevant source of income for publishers devoted to genres such as romance and thriller in Spain, and informative non-fiction in Mexico and Latin America.
The scarcity of content from main major publishing groups in these types of channels continues to be an opportunity for independent publishers.
The deceleration suffered by Everand has presented an opportunity for Kobo, which launched Kobo Plus in Spain and Latin America.
3. Ebooks Grow Beyond Print in Record Year
Consulting firm GfK reported that print book growth in Spain during 2024 was 9,8%, a record figure according to their records, while the ebook market increased by 10,4%.
The ebook market continues to grow in double digits, even after the quantitative leap recorded in 2020.
4. Pre-sales work...and Few Use Them!
Circulating new releases in ebook and audiobook weeks before the launch date has been confirmed as one of the keys to promoting a title.
For now, only major groups benefit from this strategy, which represents a golden opportunity for the independent sector.
5. The Spotify ABP Revolution and Fabely Launch
The implementation of Spotify's audiobook model, Spotify AudioBook Project (ABP), in a limited list of territories has resulted in a more than significant increase in revenue for publishers offering their audiobooks on this platform.
It’s time to prepare your catalogue!
Now is the time to produce audiobook versions of titles that we want to benefit from Spotify's large number of subscribers, as this model is expected to reach Spain in the future. As of April 2025, Spotify has already implemented this subscription plan in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Community is key!
Publishers, studios, narrators, and other actors in the audiobook universe have access to Fabely.es, the first and only platform dedicated to promoting Spanish audiobooks. Now is the perfect time to start connecting with readers and growing the audience for audio catalogs, as a cornerstone to increase their revenue potential.
6. Subscription: Driving Audiobook Growth
Unlike ebooks, subscription is the main source of revenue in the audiobook sector and reached 88% of the total sales in 2024, two percentage points above 2023.
Both unlimited subscription (or flat-subscription) and limited subscription (or credit-based) are the options most chosen by readers to listen to their favorite audiobooks.
Selling an audiobook exclusively through unit sales channels and libraries reduces its profitability to 12% of its full potential.
7. Artificial Intelligence: Safeguarding and Seizing the Opportunity
Since the beginning of AI implementation in content creation, the publishing market has expressed concerns about the improper use of works with existing copyright.
Bookwire has protected the interests of the publishers whose catalogs they distribute from the beginning (referring to Eric Bartoletti's article, Head of Business Development at Bookwire, in point 4.1 of this report).
Content licensing to train AI engines is one of the opportunities that have emerged and from which publishers can benefit, always with the highest standards of security and observance of copyright.
8. Synthetic Voices Make Themselves Heard
Text-To-Speech technology or synthetic voices have achieved such an optimal level of quality that, having overcome initial reluctance, the main audiobook platforms have begun to offer content created with this software.
For the reader, transparency is important when indicating that content has been generated with artificial voices.
The cost reduction eliminates the entry barrier to the genre by smaller publishers.