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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Proving Amazon's a Monopoly? Not So Easy 'Seattle Times' Says

According to a report in the 'Seattle Times,' proving that Amazon is a monopoly, let alone an abusive monopoly, will be very difficult, if not impossible. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A “Critical Moment” for Ebook Subscription Services

We need innovation, and Kindle Unlimited might not be publishers’ best option, argues 24symbols co-founder, Justo Hidalgo. The post A “Critical Moment” for Ebook Subscription Services appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple and Amazon Have a Problem: People Don’t Want to Buy Stuff Anymore

The failure of the Fire Phone has been widely cited as the reason for Amazon’s disastrous quarter, but a darker cloud has settled over the world’s biggest online retailer. The core of Amazon’s business—its original reason for being: selling books and other media—has grown wobbly. The problem:... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle Scout Open for Voting

Voting begins today on Kindle Scout, Amazon’s new crowdsourced publishing program, letting readers preview and vote on which unpublished manuscripts they believe should be published. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon losses increase in third quarter

Amazon has reported increased third quarter losses of $437m (£273m), prompting shares to tumble in after hours trading in New York. The internet giant’s losses were significantly higher than in the same quarter last year when it reported a $41m (£25.57m) deficit.  The company reported the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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AUDIO: Is technology killing old loved books?

Josh Spero, author of Second Hand Stories and editor of Spear's Magazine, and the author Erica Wagner, a former literary editor of the Times mull the question of high tech and old books. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fake news site National Report: ‘We’re doing a public service’

Is National Report a menace or a public good? Fake news publishers are taking advantage of how people read and share news. But National Report says its doing good work. The post Fake news site National Report: ‘We’re doing a public service’ appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Will Amazon Disrupt Sweden’s Book Market?

Sweden's book market is bracing for the launch of Amazon, where ebooks are hamstrung by high taxes and print books are still relatively affordable. The post Will Amazon Disrupt Sweden’s Book Market? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Kindle Voyage Wi-Fi + free 3G and Leather Origami Cover [Review]

It seems like everyone has a tablet or phablet nowadays. These devices are wonderful as they let you do many things, like listening to music, surfing the web and reading. Yes, you can read a book on an iPad, Nexus 7 or Galaxy Note, but you shouldn't  -- your eyes do not want you to. You see,... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big Losses, Big Questions for Amazon

Amazon's release of its third quarter financial results Thursday afternoon gave analysts and investors lots to think about as the giant e-tailer posted a large quarterly loss, forecast the possibility of a loss for the fourth quarter and had slowing growth in its media segment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wales 'should develop national library service', says report

Wales should seek to develop a nationally coordinated library service as a longterm goal, according to a new report into Welsh libraries. The Welsh Public Libraries Review was commissioned at the end of last year by the culture minister John Griffiths and carried out over the first half of 2014... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Threats to Barnet library service

Barnet's library service could be reduced to a fraction of its current size if the council go ahead with new proposals. The London authority, home to Friern Barnet library which was occupied by protestors when it was slated for closure, is trying to cut £2.85m from its library budgets in the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New E-book Subscription Service Debuts in U.K.

Blloon, a new ebook subscription service aimed at kids, has launched in the U.K. Its Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S strikes 'version of agency' deal with Amazon

Simon & Schuster in the US and Amazon have signed a new multiyear deal which is a "return to a version of agency" and is also “economically advantageous for both Simon & Schuster and its authors”. An email from Carolyn Reidy (pictured), president and c.e.o. at Simon & Schuster, said... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bilbary caught in 'crossfire' of Amazon dispute

Tim Coates has blamed uncertainty over the ebook market for the collapse of his ebook site Bilbary. The ebookseller went into liquidation in April, with a final creditors’ meeting to be held in December. Coates is now working on The Freckle Project, a new ebook venture aiming to bridge the gap... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon and Simon & Schuster reach a deal – what does this mean for Hachette?

Amazon and Simon & Schuster recently reached a deal on ebook and print book prices and it gives Simon & Schuster control over ebook prices 'with some limited exceptions.' E-book prices are reportedly part of the ongoing dispute between Amazon and publisher Hachette. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Speculation Begins on Amazon, S&S Deal

A raft of stories speculate on what the new terms deal between Amazon and Simon & Schuster means for authors, other publishers and, of course, Hachette. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon and Simon & Schuster reach a deal on internet book sales

Amazon just found a way to put further pressure on Hachette in its ongoing pricing war: strike a deal with another publisher. The online retailer has forged a new agreement with Simon & Schuster that will keep the book giant's digital and physical... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon agrees ebook pricing deal

Online retailer Amazon reaches a deal with publisher Simon & Schuster over the pricing of ebooks. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S, Amazon Agree on 'Version' of Agency Pricing

The new sales agreement supposedly reached on Monday by Amazon and Simon & Schuster, has been confirmed by both parties. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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