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Wattpad Partners with SoundCloud to Add Soundtracks to eBooks

wattpad_logoWattpad rolled out an update for its Android app yesterday which adds new options for audio soundtracks. The app lets creators embed clips from Soundcloud in their stories, and it also lets authors record their own clips.

The new features lets authors narrate dialogue, create audiobooks, add soundtracks to their stories from their Android device, and much more. "Audio clips can bring stories to life. Wattpad writers can use sound effects to add impact to a story, narrate an excerpt, or share a playlist to entertain their readers in a new way," said Tarun Sachdeva, head of product development at Wattpad.

Or at least that is how it is supposed to work; I updated the app but can’t find a way to embed audio or record my own soundtracks for the story I tried to write.

Luckily, it would seem that I might be alone in having this problem.

As part of kicking off the new features, Wattpad has assembled a new reading list consisting of 18 stories that already have soundtracks. You’ll need to update the app to listen to the audio, but once you do you will enjoy a more immersive reading experience.

Or at least it is supposed to let you listen to the soundtracks; this is not working for me either. And I can’t figure out why.

In the hopes that this will work for you, I’m sharing this bit of news anyway. I might not be able to enjoy it but I would like to hear what you think.

Update: Wattpad told me the following morning that they had not rolled the feature out to all users at the time they published the blog post.  It has now gone live – but still won’t work for me.

You can find the Wattpad app in Google Play.

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Comments


Michael April 14, 2015 um 9:22 pm

Same experience here. Just updated to the latest version, but I can’t see a way to add audio to a story or experience the audio from stories already said to have it.

Nate Hoffelder April 14, 2015 um 11:58 pm

Thanks. I’m still frustrated but at least now I know it’s not just me.

Michael April 16, 2015 um 12:11 am

I have it now, though all I get when I try it is a "Cannot play audio at this time" message. Happens in both reading mode and create mode.

Feels more like a beta test than a rollout. I wonder if this is why it’s not available in the iOS version. Apple doesn’t catch every bug, but if they did see this problem when the update was submitted they’d insist Wattpad fix it before letting it through. I know Google says they do human review now too, but I really think they’re just looking for malware or potential copyright issues and don’t really examine functionality.


Doug April 15, 2015 um 3:22 pm

Interesting (translates to bummer) the option only exists via Android. I’m both a Wattpad and a Soundcloud user (with recorded excerpts of a story) but cannot participate as I don’t have an Android device.

Nate Hoffelder April 15, 2015 um 3:42 pm

What’s worse is that it doesn’t even exist via Android – not for me, anyway.


ellie April 23, 2015 um 8:38 pm

Jeeeez, is there any chance they’ll make this happen for iOS? I would kill for this feature but I don’t own any Android electronics.


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jen_laticie August 25, 2017 um 3:17 am

Already have soundtracks? Can’t listen to ’em .. could someone help?


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