november 2023 News Roundup
This month two superstars dominate the audiobook news… actually, make that three superstars! Beyond the glamour, the motivation and educational benefits of listening to audiobooks are evaluated by psychologists and librarians. Also in the news, a new partnership for comic lovers, the industry down-under and the ever-evolving bumpy road of using of AI voices.
Sounds, Stories, and Psychology: The perceptions and motivations of audiobook consumption
A graduate student researcher examines the emotional resonances of dedicated audiobook listeners and determines they fall into four categories: Busy Bookworms, Non-readers who dislike print, Experience Lovers, and Entertainment Seekers. [Source: scholarsarchive.byu.edu]
How Audiobooks Help Emerging Readers and Inspire a Love of Books
Audiobooks allow students to enjoy books above their reading level, introducing them to engaging stories that will hook them for life. "Over the years, I’ve found that a quality audiobook is one of the most effective tools in my librarian toolbox." [Source: edutopia.org]
FEED YOUR EARPODS
Pairing Celebrity With Audiobook? It’s a ‘Kind of Matchmaking.’
What goes into selecting a celebrity reader for an audiobook? [Source: nytimes.com]
Barbra Streisand Will Narrate the Audiobook for Her New Memoir, My Name Is Barbra
The long-awaited memoir from the EGOT winner will detail Streisand’s expansive career on the screen and stage, and her journey toward stardom. [Source: people.com]
The business of audiobooks
Vault Comics, Aethon Books Announce Cross Platform Media Partnership
The partnership will see Aethon publish ebook and audiobook adaptations and tie-ins of titles from the Vault library. [Source: forbes.com]
Explainer: What are the costs and considerations of making audiobooks?
Considerations for the Australian and New Zealand book industry. [Source: booksandpublishing.com ]
AI News
Will AI audiobooks change the fate of voice artists?
Can magic unfold when AI and human narrators collaborate, working in harmonious synergy to craft unforgettable audiobooks? [Source: harpersbazaar.in]
Kindle Direct Publishing Will Beta Test Virtual Voice–Narrated Audiobooks
According to an Amazon spokesperson, currently only 4% of titles self-published through KDP have an audiobook available. [Source: publishersweekly.com]