Amazon Recruits Comedians, Engineers for Expanding Audio Service

Amazon.com Inc. is ramping up its investment in podcasts and other radio-style shows to expand the types of programming it offers via Audible, the audio book company it acquired in 2008.Audible has recruited well-known comedians, along with radio and podcast producers for the initiative, and job postings suggest a significant global push. Maria Bamford and Jonathan Katz are taping episodes of "Bedtime Stories," a show in which comedians rewrite fairy tales, according to their manager Bruce Smith.Entertainment plays a crucial role in Amazon's effort to push beyond its core business of selling books, laundry detergent and televisions online. The Seattle-based company's original films and TV shows have won critical acclaim and helped increase the appeal of its $99-a-year Prime service, which includes delivery discounts along with video and music streaming. Audible has more than 250,000 audio programs including books and plays, with downloads available for iPhones, Androids and other smartphone systems. Continue reading at AdAge.com Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'

[ Advertising Age | 2016-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #selling books #laundry detergent #tv shows #music streaming

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Amazon, Hachette end months-long dispute

One of publishing's nastiest, most high-profile conflicts, the monthslong standoff between Amazon.com and Hachette Book Group, is ending. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Wins Auction for .Book Domain

Despite opposition from the AAP, Amazon.com has won the right to operate the .book top-level domain name in a private auction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rich Expands to Nan A. Talese

Alison Rich, v-p and executive director of publicity for Doubleday, will take on the additional role of associate publisher for Knopf Doubleday imprint Nan A. Talese Books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mackenzie tells SYP: 'Amazon's success could cause it problems'

Things are "only going to get tougher for traditional publishers unless we can show ourselves to be very good at what we do,” Ursula Mackenzie told the Society of Young Publishers (SYP) at its annual conference on Saturday (8th October). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reedsy: A Publishing Services Startup for the Digital Age

Ricardo Fayet, co-founder of Reedsy, an online publishing services marketplace, discusses the startup's business model and philosophy. The post Reedsy: A Publishing Services Startup for the Digital Age appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Everything I Never Told You tops Amazons 100 best books of 2014

Celeste Ngs debut novel beats Stephen King, Richard Flanagan, Martin Amis and Hilary Mantel to lead American online retailers list of the years top print booksAmazon.com has chosen Celeste Ngs debut novel Everything I Never Told You as its printed book of the year, ahead of a wealth of prominent... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scribd adds 30,000 audiobooks to its subscription service

Scribd's ebook subscription service seems to be making some inroads on Amazon's turf, and now the company is looking to take a swipe at Audible's lunch. From today, subscribers will be able to access a library of 30,000 audiobook titles that include... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Expanding the International Rights Market for Children’s Books

A new breed of independent foreign rights professionals specialized in children’s book rights sales has emerged, and they are finding new homes abroad for kids' literature. The post Expanding the International Rights Market for Children’s Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sieghart 'frightened' for future of 'dysfunctionally run' library service

William Sieghart has said that the library service operates "dysfunctionally", and that he is "frightened and worried" for the future of the library network. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scribd Rolls Out the Internet’s First All-You-Can-Listen Audiobooks Service

The rise of the Subscription Economy continues. Little more than a year after launching its all-you-can-read ebook service, the San Francisco startup Scribd has announced that the service now offers more than 30,000 audiobooks, including titles from big-name publishing houses HarperCollins and... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scribd Takes On Amazon's Audible With All-You-Can-Listen Audiobooks

The subscription service is adding 30,000 recorded books to the half-million ebooks it already offers.Thirteen months ago, San Francisco startup Scribd launched a service which aims to do for books what Netflix does for movies and TV shows. It offers a large-but-not-utterly-comprehensive... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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AP Sees Expanded Coverage, Growth Ahead

The Associated Press will continue its efforts to retain U.S. newspaper publishers next year, adding an intermediate service level and a “shared news desk” for increased state coverage, says President and CEO Gary Pruitt.   E ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Not all authors are bitter about Amazon | @guardianletters

Andrew Wylies attack on Amazon (Top literary agent likens Amazons brutal tactics to Isis, 31 October) portrays an opinion of the company that is directly contrary to my experience as an author.My specialist non-fiction book (Dentist on the Ward: An introduction to the General Hospital for Core... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Booktrust’s Bird defends Amazon partnership

Outgoing Booktrust chief executive Viv Bird has defended Amazon’s sponsorship of the Booktrust Best Book Awards, even though it resulted in author Allan Ahlberg turning down a lifetime achievement award. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Top literary agent Andrew Wylie calls Amazon Isis-like distribution channel

Wylie calls for fellow publishers to stand firm and not to blink during negotiations over ebook royalties with digital retailerHe is the sinister jackal of the literary world who counts Salman Rushdie, Philip Roth and Martin Amis among his formidable roster of clients.Andrew Wylie, arguably the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon’s Impact on Publishing? It’s Complicated

An industry panel on Amazon and its business tactics elicited a range of often contradictory responses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sigrid Rausing: 'Amazon is squandering goodwill'

Granta owner Sigrid Rausing has used the opportunity of a BBC Radio 4 interview conducted over a game of chess to criticise Amazon, calling the online retail giant "quite petty" and "exploitative". Rausing was interviewed by Dominic Lawson for an edition of "Across the Board" broadcast earlier... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wylie praises 'end to publishers cowering to Amazon'

Literary agent Andrew Wylie has said he believes the era of publishers cowering and giving in to Amazon is at an end, comparing the online retail giant to terror group ISIS. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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France’s Hachette Expands Interests in Russia

France's Hachette Livre has extended its stake in Azbuka Atticus, Russia's ninth largest publishing conglomerate. The post France’s Hachette Expands Interests in Russia appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wylie Backs Hachette in Amazon Dispute

Agent Andrew Wylie told a Toronto audience that publishers need to stand firm in the battle against Amazon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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