Project Gutenberg has converted approximately 5,000 book files into audiobooks using synthetic voice. Working in concert with MIT and Microsoft, the project aimed to refine producing machine-generated audio conversions at scale. The researchers write: “Our system uses new advances in neural text-to-speech, emotion recognition, custom voice cloning, and distributed computing to create engaging and lifelike audiobooks…. We believe that this work has the potential to greatly improve the accessibility and availability of audiobooks.” In a paper on the project, they explain: “Different audiobooks require different reading styles. Nonfiction works benefit from a clear and neutral voice while fictional works with […]
Audio
Abrams Partners With RBMedia On Audiobooks
Abrams has signed signed a multi-year audiobook deal with RBMedia, with the first titles launching in spring 2024. RBMedia has produced Abrams titles in the past including the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney and Unprotected by Billy Porter, which won an Audie, but this deal makes them the exclusive audio producer for the publisher. Abrams president and ceo Mary McAveney said, “Abrams is committed to developing multi-platform media experiences for our audiences of booklovers. Audio is a critical piece in our continued development, connecting our narrative publishing with millions of audio consumers. We couldn’t be in better hands.” Troy Juliar, chief content […]
Scribd Will Move eBooks and Audiobooks To New App
Scribd announced that it will now separate its content across three products, with ebooks and audiobooks moving to a new app called Everand. Everand will also host magazines, podcasts, news articles, and sheet music. Meanwhile, Scribd.com and a new Scribd app will continue to host documents and other community-uploaded content, while they continue to operate SlideShare as a separate entity. Trip Adler, co-founder and CEO of Scribd, said in a release, “Over the last 16 years, we’ve offered a wide variety of content to everyone, but we recognized that readers either gravitated toward ebooks and audiobooks, or documents and research. […]
Spotify Readies Offer of Free Audiobooks for Subscribers
Spotify has been talking a big audiobook game for a while without really doing anything. Now, the WSJ reports, “Spotify plans to test a free audiobook bundle for its paying subscribers in the coming months.” Sources tell the WSJ the pilot program “would allow subscribers to listen to up to 20 hours of audiobooks a month at no additional cost.” Titles and compensation remain unclear: “The scope of titles available through the program is expected to be broad, but is still being finalized.” It’s expected to be a limited-time offer that will “likely” be made in English-speaking countries, including the […]
Libro.fm to Launch Internationally
Audiobook platform Libro.fm will launch internationally in the UK, New Zealand and Australia on July 26. Independent bookstores around the world will now be able to partner with the platform to sell audiobooks. The launch includes 132 new international stores (bringing the total of participating bookstores to 2,200+); access to 400,000 audiobooks; and a customer membership model as well as the option to buy à la carte in one of six currencies. Co-founder and ceo of Libro.fm Mark Pearson says in the release, “As an employee-owned company with just 18 employees in the U.S. and U.K., we have experienced firsthand […]
SAG-AFTRA Members Are Allowed To Work On Audiobooks
Actors union SAG-AFTRA says its members are permitted to continue working on audiobooks, in spite of the Hollywood strike, which went into effect today. The union writes in a document shared with publishers, “Many of our members can and should keep working under various other contracts” with a list of approved projects, including audiobooks. The union is striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after negotiations collapsed over AI and streaming issues. They join the WGA, which has been on strike since May.