This month’s news is all over the place, for example the article in which audiobook narrators foretell the impact of AI was found on 24 media outlets! But the subjects are all over the place too; the effects of the audiobook boom on the way writers write, cutting fees for creators, the neuroscience of listening, generational appeal of audiobooks in the Arab Region, the Indian Market gearing up for AI, an uplifting new audiobook of Mary Oliver’s life and works, and, just to prove once and for all that audiobooks are all over the place, read about audiobooks on the bus and at the gas station.

April celebrates audiobooks with awards in New York (Audies) and Scandinavian cities (Storytel). The art of audiobook narration is celebrated in the news this month from author reads, to the meaningful use of the pause, to the dynamics of a masterfully produced multi-cast. Read what disabled listeners have to say about A.I. narrators. Also this month; audiobooks and brain development, advertising in audiobooks, to recipe or not to recipe, new subscription offerings and additional A.I. considerations.

This Month, enjoy an NPR audiobook comic strip, predictions for advertising-in-audio listening experiences, the love of narration and listening, the growth of Welsh and Spanish markets, new offerings in Poland and Bengal, ethical considerations of AI, praise of the human voice and the possibilities of human voices and AI living in… support of one another. In addition, tune your earpods to a couple notable audiobook offerings.

This month we pay tribute to audiobook advocates past and present, a current EGOT legend, the use of audiobooks for mental health and a generous donation to the RNIB Talking Books Library. Explore new opportunities in the Spanish and Korean language markets and a futuristic hub for new-age learning in UAE. And the news continues to be flooded with A.I. considerations including the controversy of Apple’s misuse of audibooks for A.I. voice training.

This month, it was hard to avoid the Apple Books announcement of its new AI-powered digital narration offering. A few articles are included here to represent a variety of opinions and predictions as well as AI advancements in South Korea. The glories of audiobooks as we know them are also celebrated this month with a New Yorker article, trainer’s tips, a heart-warming story of audiobooks helping Ukrainian refugee children, the surge of Spanish language audiobooks, and a case for Urdu language audiobooks.