February 2020 APA News Roundup
LONDON BOOK FAIR LAUNCHING FIRST EVER AUDIO HQ SUMMIT
This Audio summit is a chance to get under the skin of key areas of the audiobook success story from subscription models to the expansion of new audio content. We are delighted to welcome US speakers including Michele Cobb from Audio Publishers Association and Dan Zitt from PRH as the US market has led the way in the audio revolution and I can’t wait to hear what is next for this exciting format.” [Source: Publishing Perspectives]
AUDIO GIVES NEW VOICE TO BOOKS IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Audiobooks, long seen as a backwater of the book industry, have become its greatest growth story. [Source: Financial Times]
PUBLIC LIBRARY EBOOK AND AUDIOBOOK USE ROCKETED UP 20% IN 2019
Of that 20% increase, the rise in audiobook consumption made up the lion’s share of growth, though the total number of audiobooks borrowed stayed well below the total number of borrowed ebooks. [Source: Forbes]
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO TO RELEASE LIVE AUDIOBOOK RECORDING
Actor David Dean Bottrell's one-man storytelling show, David Dean Bottrell Makes Love."We've always wanted to experiment more with translating live recordings to audiobooks, and David's engaging storytelling made for the perfect opportunity," says Amanda D'Acierno, President and Publisher, Penguin Random House Audio. [Source: Broadway World]
PUSHING THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE FURTHER AND FURTHER
there are now books being recorded that would never have been considered as audiobooks 10 years ago. [Source: BBC]
AUDIO CONTENT FOR KIDS IS ON THE RISE
“Parents and families are excited about listening together before bedtime. They’re listening on road trips. They’re listening while they’re making dinner,” said Diana Dapito, a senior vice president of content at Audible. [Source: Chicago Sun Times]
RICHARD BALDWYN, AUDIOBOOK PIONEER, HAS PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 98
He directed almost 100 audiobooks on LP and cassette tape, involving big name stars such as David Niven, Richard Briers, Judi Dench, Tim Piggott-Smith, Prunella Scales, Helena Bonham-Carter, Kenneth Williams, James Mason and Princess Anne. [Source: The Bookseller]
THE OKLAHOMA VIRTUAL LIBRARY HAS ACHIEVED A RECORD-BREAKING 1 MILLION DIGITAL BOOK CHECKOUTS IN 2019
This accomplishment illustrates the continued growth and importance of library lending of ebooks and audiobooks along with the creative ways libraries have served their communities with digital services. [Source: Duncan Banner]
COLIN KAEPERNICK LAUNCHES PUBLISHING HOUSE, HAS AUDIBLE AUDIO DEAL
Kaepernick Publishing is being launched “to create opportunities for Black and Brown writers, authors, and creators to control their narratives and retain ownership.” [Source: Publishers Weekly]