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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Amazon Recruits Comedians, Engineers for Expanding Audio Service'


The Audio Book Club Is a Bad Feminist

To listen to the Audio Book Club discussion of Bad Feminist, click the arrow on the player below. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2014-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bad feminist


Indies First Movement Expands

The ABA will launch a second, larger Indies First/Small Business Saturday campaign this Thanksgiving weekend. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #thanksgiving weekend


Amazon to treble London workforce in new office move

Amazon is to move to London offices near ‘Silicon Roundabout’, nearly trebling its... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #office move #london offices


Amazon Customers Notified of Apple Settlement

Amazon this week emailed Kindle customers court-mandated notice of the terms of Apple’s recent deal to settle damages in its ebook price-fixing case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #apple settlement #settle damages


Amazon brings Fire Phone to UK

Amazon will launch its Fire Phone through the O2 network provider in the UK at the end of this... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fire phone


Nguyen says Amazon 'moving away from books'

Kevin Nguyen, a former Amazon.com books editor who has just joined US ebook subscription service... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books editor


Amazon Unveils KDP Kids

In a move designed to attract and support children’s book authors and self-publishers, Amazon has launched KDP Kids, a children's-focused illustrated and chapter book category in the Kindle Store. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #support children #move designed #book authors #kindle store


Amazon launches children's books KDP programme

Amazon has launched a dedicated self-publishing service for children's books, KDP Kids.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors United Preparing New Amazon Initiative

The group of more than 900 authors will launch a new initiative, possibly next week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Szkutak retires as Amazon c.f.o.

Amazon.com’s chief financial office will leave the company next year, after more than 12... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon's war on ebooks, LG's G Watch R and other stories you might've missed

This week, we reviewed the HTC One for Windows, investigated Amazon's controversial ebook-pricing model, played around with Hyperlapse, learned about LG's G Watch R and more! Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ve missed #news highlights


With Print, Amazon Challenges Brazil’s Bookselling Establishment

The Seattle giant has started selling print books in Brazil, demanding good metadata and creating better customer service. This move could raise the bar for the rest of the Brazilian book industry. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #customer service


AUDIO: How much should an ebook cost?

The US online retailer Amazon and French publisher Hachette are arguing over the cost of ebooks to those buying the products for their tablets and machines. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook cost


Laurel Book Store to Expand

The Oakland store is moving downtown in early October and quadrupling its space. To help defray costs she just launched an Indiegogo campaign. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early october #indiegogo campaign


Engadget Daily: Amazon's war on ebooks, Ralph Lauren's smart shirt and more!

Today, we break down Amazon's controversial ebook-pricing model, learn about Ralph Lauren's smart shirt for athletes, anticipate LG's round-faced G Watch R and more! Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours. ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #engadget daily #ralph lauren #news highlights


Amazon and Hachette feud could rewrite the book on publishing

The Ebook price row has the potential to create irreversible changes to the literary world and its business modelsThe battle between Amazon and the French publisher Hachette is not just a spat about the price of books. Their row over ebook prices, which led to the online retailer freezing out... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook prices #donna tartt #biggest publishers


What you need to know about Amazon's fight with ebook publishers

Unless you've been living in a book-free cave, you may have heard that retail giant Amazon and book publisher Hachette are having a little tiff. It's all about digital versions of books -- so-called ebooks -- and it boils down to this: Amazon wants... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook publishers #digital versions


Ellora’s Cave CEO Confirms Amazon Sales Drop

Ellora’s Cave CEO Patty Marks confirmed the house is downsizing in the wake of what she described as "drastic" and unexplained declines in its ebook sales via Amazon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #unexplained declines #ebook sales


How Amazon's bid to bury Hachette has backfired

Amazon's suggestion that the ebook and paperback revolutions are comparable has sparked scorn, satire and indigationWhen Amazon published their rather extraordinary "Message from the Amazon Books Team" at readersunited.com last week, they got a few things right and a few things wrong. Alongside... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishing #bit odd #allen lane #british public


Ellora’s Cave Cuts Staff, Blames Big Amazon Sales Drop

In a letter to her authors, Ellora’s Cave CEO Patty Marks blames the cuts on unexplained declines in ebook sales through Amazon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #unexplained declines #ebook sales