August 2024 News Roundup
The August 2024 news roundup celebrates your listening habits including; children’s read-alongs, walking bookclubs, inspirations for your morning run and immersive experiences. International stories include partnerships in Brazil with telecommunications companies, an award winning Māori title, audiobook donations in Jamaica, awards in India and news of expansion in Germany. Read about what makes a great audiobook and more.
Making a Great Audiobook: Librarians, Audio Experts on Elements of Outstanding Recordings
Making a great audiobook is no easy feat. It starts with identifying the ideal narrator. [Source: schoollibraryjournal.com]
Why Read-Alongs like VOX and Wonderbook Hold Strong Appeal
Read-along books reduce unknown word anxiety and increase reading confidence, among other benefits. [Source: schoollibraryjournal.com]
Want to spur your child’s intellectual development? Use audiobooks instead of videos
Five ways that audiobooks can enhance children’s ability to learn are explored. [Source: japantoday.com]
Walking Book Clubs Boost Your Steps and Book Count: Why More Readers Are Joining Them
Combine reading and walking by listening to audiobooks, chatting with other participants and finding new stories. [Source: womansworld.com]
What is Immersion Reading?
Immersive reading involves technology, but it somehow resembles unplugging. Maybe because it demands total attention. [Source: bookriot.com]
The business of audiobooks
Spotify Adds 1,000 Audiobooks from 100 Publishers Distributed by Ingram
The newly added audiobooks come from a range of small and independent publishers, including Europa Editions, Milkweed Editions, G&D Media, Bard Press, and New Society Publishers. [Source: publishersweekly.com]
AudioUK Surveys Data, a Bid for Government Support
In an effort to bring UK independent audio production into the tax-relief granted to other creative industries, AudioUK gathers data. [Source: publishingperspectives.com]
Frankfurter Buchmesse 2024: Frankfurt Audio and The Arts+
At Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 16 to 20), the exhibition space dedicated to audio in Hall 3.1 will be almost twice the size of last year’s Frankfurt Audio area. [Source: publishingperspectives.com]
Blackstone Will Offer PRH Audio Titles as CDs on Demand
“This partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide high-quality audiobooks to listeners everywhere,” Blackstone chief sales officer Anne Fonteneau said in the announcement. [Source: publishersweekly.com]
FEED YOUR EARPODS
Hugh van Cuylenburg and the best running audiobooks
Hitting snooze on your morning 5k? The podcaster and regular track runner believes an audiobook could help you find the willpower to lace up and head out the door. [Source: menshealth.com.au]
Blind children to celebrate The Gruffalo’s 25th birthday with RSBC and Macmillan Children’s Books
Blind and partially sighted children in Derbyshire will join in the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the classic children’s book. [Source: inyourarea.co.uk]
BEYOND THE UNITED STATES
Expanding Digital Reading in Brazil: Calling All Telcos
As Brazil’s book market has struggled, partnerships with telecommunication companies has expanded access to ebooks and audiobooks. [Source: Publishing Perspectives]
Māori Made Easy audiobook takes tohu
The audiobook Māori Made Easy by Scotty Morrison has won the inaugural Libro.fm Audiobook award at this year’s Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards. [Source: waateanews.com]
Tati Inc donates 1,000 audiobooks to Project Star to inspire Jamaican children
The donation is part of a broader mission to encourage literacy and impart important life lessons through engaging and interactive storytelling. [Source: jamaicaobserver.com]
Kuku FM Dominates India Audio Summit and Awards, Securing Wins Across All Audiobooks Categories
These awards underscore Kuku FM’s commitment to providing exceptional audio experiences that resonate with Indian audiences. [Source: businessnewsthisweek.com]
Bastei Lübbe AG acquires Hörcompany GmbH and thus expands its audio activities
"With Hörcompany, we have found an ideal addition to our audiobook and audioplay catalogue," says Soheil Dastyari, CEO of Bastei Lübbe AG. [Source: eqs-news.com]
AI considerations
Scribd Introduces ‘Ask AI’ to World Subscribers in a Beta Release
The subscription service Scribd and its sister service Everand are rolling out a consumer-facing ‘Ask AI’ feature for search and discoverability. [Source: publishingperspectives.com]
Audible is testing an AI-powered search feature
Select U.S. customers can interact with “Maven,” Audible’s new personal recommendation expert that surfaces title suggestions based on users’ specific requests. [Source: techcrunch.com]
out of the box
Your coworker is probably listening to smut
The cable of her wired headphones got stuck on the handle of the door next to her desk, yanking them out of her phone and causing what she called a "very graphic sex scene" from an audiobook to play for anyone nearby to hear. [Source: businessinsider.com]