Storytel AB is a Swedish e-book and audiobook subscription service based in Stockholm. It is available in more than 25 countries.[1] Its English audiobook service Audiobooks.com is available in more than 150 countries.[2]
History
Storytel was founded in 2006 by Jonas Tellander and Jon Hauksson.[3]
In 2016, Storytel acquired Norstedts förlag, one of Sweden's largest book publishers, and Mofibo, a Danish book service.[4][5] The following year, Storytel acquired People's Press, another Danish publisher, and expanded its operations to Russia, Spain, India, and the United Arab Emirates.[6]
In 2018, Storytel acquired Seslenen Kitaplar, a Turkish audiobook service.[7] A year later, in 2019, it acquired Gummerus, Finland's oldest publishing house.[8]
In July 2020, Storytel acquired a 70 percent stake in Forlagið, an Icelandic publishing house.[9]
In November 2021, Storytel acquired Audiobooks.com from RBMedia for $135 million.[10][11]
In February 2022, Jonas Tellander stepped down as the CEO for personal reasons and joined the board of directors.[12] In August 2022, Johannes Larcher, formerly an executive at HBO, was appointed as CEO.[13] In July 2024 it was announced that Bodil Eriksson Torp is appointed new CEO of Storytel Group.[14]
External links
References
- Audiobook streamer Storytel sees pandemic spurring subscriber growth Business Insider^
- Storytel enters the U.S. with acquisition of Audiobooks.com Reuters^
- Sweden's Storytel Continues Its Global Expansion PublishersWeekly.com, retrieved 2021-05-04^
- Sweden's Storytel to enter four new markets Reuters, March 24, 2017^
- Storytel køber bogtjenesten Mofibo via.ritzau.dk, retrieved 2021-10-13^
- Storytel opkøber forlaget People's Press mediawatch.dk, 2017-03-02, retrieved 2021-10-13^
- Türkiye, 19 ülke içinde en hızlı büyüyen oldu Ekonomist, 2020-04-28, retrieved 2022-04-12^
- Kirjojen suoratoistopalvelu Storytel ostaa Suomen kolmanneksi suurimman kustantamon Gummeruksen Helsingin Sanomat, 2019-09-17, retrieved 2023-01-04^
- Storytel Purchases Majority Share in Forlagið, Iceland's Largest Publisher July 3, 2020^
- Ruth Comerford. Storytel extends into English language market with $135m Audiobooks deal The Bookseller, November 13, 2021, retrieved November 13, 2021^
- Heloise Wood. Newly formed RBmedia buys Audiobooks.com The Bookseller, April 11, 2017, retrieved October 22, 2017^
- Jonas Tellander to step down as Storytel CEO – search process for a new CEO initiated Storytel, 17 February 2022, retrieved 2022-02-18^
- Sweden's Storytel Appoints HBO Exec as CEO^
- Bodil Ericsson Torp appointed new CEO of Storytel Group 23 July 2024^
- Torbjörn Ivarsson. Isländska konkurrensverket granskar Storytel DN.se, 2025-08-21, retrieved 2025-08-21^
- Mark Williams. Turkey's Competition Authority is investigating Storytel The New Publishing Standard, 2023-08-04, retrieved 2025-08-21^
- Mark Williams. Storytel’s royalty model “rigged and manipulated.” Storm brews over Storytel’s privileged agreement with Bonnier The New Publishing Standard, 2018-09-11, retrieved 2025-08-21^