Digital audio has been one of the highest growth sectors of the U.S. book market for several years. In a mature industry, it’s also one of the only true “whitespace” areas where the publishing industry is gaining new readers. In some ways, audiobooks might be a better native digital format than e-books, especially on smartphones where they can compete with other forms of entertainment more successfully.

Since 2004 NPD BookScan has delivered books industry data, analytics, and industry expertise for publishers, retailers, and entertainment companies. In 2020 NPD added audiobooks to our digital dataset with a beta version of a new service: PubTrack Digital Audio – the first publisher-verified retail measurement service for digital audiobooks in the U.S.

Audiobooks to possibly supplant screen time for kids, give eyes a rest, and see record digital lending..

AI replacing live narrators, are bookstores "essential" during a quarantine, and the neuroscience of listening to an audiobook…

Book fairs address piracy and pandemic sales, public restrooms playing audiobooks, and more tidbits you might have missed!

Your book is unique. Your audiobook should be unique too. But, if the audiobook that you dream of creating doesn’t fit the standard, cookie-cutter model, you’ll run into obstacles getting the job done on the major self-service platforms.