Spotify: Authors Can Now Create 5 Audiobooks for FREE | Self-Publishing News | September 17, 2026

Spotify for Authors is rolling out free AI audiobook creation for self-published authors using ElevenLabs, while Canada changes its ISBN rules around AI-generated books and the U.S. Justice Department enters OpenAI's copyright fight with The New York Times. We also revisit the controversial library e-book study after new questions about its methodology, plus several updates from Tertulia for Authors.

• Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/PublisherRocket (affiliate link)
• AP News: Trump administration backs OpenAI in New York Times' copyright case over training of chatbots - https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-new-york-times-openai-copyright-dbb22e8e02c660ee5a8644915dec39a4
• Tania's Writing Realm: ATTENTION CANADIAN AUTHORS / Changes with ISBNs - https://youtu.be/0ijU_tXSgwA?si=q7z_aHe95I7NL84D
  • Government of Canada: About ISBNs - https://www.canada.ca/en/library-archives/services/publishers/isbn/about.html
• Spotify for Authors: Turn Your Book Into an Audiobook in Minutes with Spotify for Authors - https://authors.spotify.com/blog/creationtools
• Jane Friedman's The Bottom Line (subscription required) - https://janefriedman.com/subscribe-paid-newsletter/
  • Publishers Weekly: Study Says Library E-book Lending Hurts Industry Sales - https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/101167-study-says-library-e-book-lending-hurts-industry-sales.html
  • Words & Money: Publishing Industry 'Study' Says Digital Library Lending Is Cannibalizing Retail Sales—Librarians Say It Reveals Something Else - https://www.wordsandmoney.com/publishing-industry-study-suggests-digital-library-lending-is-cannibalizing-retail-sales-librarians-say-it-reveals-something-else/
  • Readers First: Significant flaw in new library eBook study - https://www.readersfirst.org/news/2026/9/3/significant-flaw-in-new-library-ebook-study
• Tertulia for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/TertuliaForAuthors (affiliate link)
  • Tertulia for Authors on Substack - https://tertuliaforauthors.substack.com/
  • Build a Professional Author Website Easily | Tertulia for Authors - https://youtu.be/F6q_ZvluXLE?si=aI1ziRarimpesKZl

Rapid-Fire Newsflash

• GetCovers - https://DaleLinks.com/GetCovers (affiliate link)
• Kindlepreneur: 25+ Best Podcasts for Writers & Self Publishers in 2026 - https://kindlepreneur.com/best-podcasts-for-writers-and-self-publishers
• Kickstarter: A Book In Hand: Optimizing Print Book Sales - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/markleslie/a-book-in-hand-optimizing-print-book-sales
• Spoken - https://Spoken.press
• Authors Guild: Copyright & AI: Best Practices for Authors & Narrators - https://authorsguild.org/event/copyright-ai-best-practices-for-authors-narrators/
• Indie Author Training: From First Draft to Launch Day - https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/talks/from-first-draft-to-launch-day/
• The Alliance of Independent Authors: The Future of Self-Publishing: What's Working Now & What's Next - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/selfpubcon2026/

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!
- Dale L. Roberts