Next Big Idea Club is “pivoting” with the launch of Next Big Idea Originals, an imprint offering short, nonfiction audiobooks. Founder and ceo Rufus Griscom calls it, “A critical inflection point in the expansion of our business model.” He says the new audios, “Mark a key moment in our evolution into a next generation publisher. We intend to build a two-sided marketplace between authors and readers/learners, with an emphasis on shorter formats and audio delivery.” The first audio shorts, averaging 60 minutes in length, are IMMORTALITY: A Users Guide by Steven Johnson, and a forthcoming work by Nir Eyal, author […]
Audio
Findaway Voices Eliminates Spotify Distribution Fee
As of May, Findaway Voices has eliminated its 20 percent distribution fee on royalties for audiobooks distributed through Spotify. On other platforms, Findaway royalties remain split 80/20 between author and distributor. They wrote in the announcement, “When your audiobook is sold on Spotify now you receive all of the 50% of the list price you set.” The change will take effect in royalty statements for April, which go out later this month. “We want to pass on cost-saving efficiencies that are realized through Findaway Voices’ integration with Spotify,” they wrote. “We are still committed to helping authors reach a WIDE […]
Listening for Growth at LBF
The second day of a book fair always feels a little more familiar and easy to navigate. You think you know how to navigate the construction to avoid the most active cranes and trucks, and it turns out you can use most any entrance and now no one cares. You figure out how to avoid the 40-person line to get scanned for the sprawling rights center by cutting into the cafe on the left and swinging around. Lunch is still nothing but a selection of “sad sandwiches,” though you’ve found a slightly quieter bit of floor space in which to […]
Audible Tests Audiobook Ads
Since October, Audible has been “conducting limited testing” on including ads in select audiobooks, podcasts, and original content for non-members. Listeners who don’t subscribe to Audible have “ad-supported access to a limited set of Audible titles” and will hear a total of eight ads in a 24-hour period. The ad-supported titles are meant to be discovered organically: If a consumer searches for an audiobook and comes upon the Audible listing, it may be available for free. A company spokesperson said that the goal of the program is to attract listeners and grow the audience for audiobooks. They could not offer […]
Storytel Acquires Finnish Audiobook Streaming Business
Swedish audiobook company Storytel has acquired the audiobook streaming arm of Finnish bookstore chain Suomalainen Kirjakauppa, which is owned by the Otava Group. Subscribers to the audiobook business, Suomalainen Plus, will be merged into Storytel’s user base. Storytel ceo Johannes Larcher said, “This agreement strengthens Storytel’s position in the vibrant Finnish market and as the Nordic market leader. We are also very pleased to deepen our relationship with the leading Finnish publishing and media owner Otava Ltd, who we had the pleasure of welcoming as a new shareholder in connection with our directed share issue in November.”
Libro.fm Expands To UK, Australia, And New Zealand
Digital audiobook platform Libro.fm is expanding to the UK, Australia, and New Zealand this July. Ahead of the launch, the company has invited booksellers in the new territories to join their Audiobook Listening Copy program and preregister for their shop for free. Madison Mullen, product manager, Libro.fm, said in a release, “In 2022, 29 percent of new visitors to our website were from outside the US, so we know that there are readers all around the world who are eager to support their local bookshops with their audiobook purchases. We have six years of experience working with 12,000+ booksellers across […]