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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The Thrill of Bringing ‘Business Adventures’ to Audio

When Bill Gates recommended Business Adventures, a 1969 essay collection by late New York contributor John Brooks, as part of his 2014 summer reading list, the Microsoft founder called it “the best business book ever,” but noted that it’s “not easy to find.” Not any more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble looks to Google to rival Amazon's same-day book deliveries

Need that yoga for dogs book yesterday? You can now get it "today" at least from Barnes & Noble, who have joined Amazon with same-day book deliveries. It's enlisting an odd partner for the service: Google, one if its competitors in the ebook space.... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #rival amazon #joined amazon


Over 900 Authors Sign Open Letter to Amazon

Authors United, the loosely knit group of authors who joined forces to formally ask Amazon to end its sales terms dispute with Hachette Books, is preparing to run a full-page ad in Sunday's "New York Times." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors united #joined forces #hachette books #full-page ad


Bank Square Expanding, Monte Cristo Going Co-op

Two New England indies are experiencing change. Bank Square Books in Mystic, Ct., is adding a second location, while Connecticut's Monte Cristo Bookshop is being converted into a nonprofit co-op. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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FastPencil Offers Self-publishing Services to Evernote Users

FastPencil partnered with Evernote to offer the ability to self-publish Evernote notes as print and ebooks, as well as offer distribution and sales. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #evernote users #offer distribution


Amazon Explains Why It Thinks $9.99 is the Right Price for Ebooks

On the Kindle forum, Amazon said it wants to price most eBooks at $9.99, claiming lower prices will sell more books and return more money to authors. Many disagree. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette ebook sales fall in wake of dispute with Amazon over pricing

Hachette finance chief plays down effect of Amazon tactics as parent Lagardère reports 1% overall dip in salesThe Hachette publishing group has reported a fall in ebook sales as it continues its battle with Amazon over pricing.The publisher of Ian Rankin and Booker prize nominee Joshua Ferris... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook sales #ian rankin #online retailer #bestselling authors


HBG Sales Rise 5.6% Despite Amazon’s 'Punitive' Actions

Despite its dispute with Amazon, in the first six months of 2014 Hachette Book Group revenue rose 5.6% over sales in the first half of 2013. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon to Hachette: Lower ebook prices and we won't ask for more of the revenues

Amazon recently extended a public challenge to Hachette, saying that if the publisher will lower ebook prices to $9.99, the company won't ask for a larger share of the revenues. This is the first time Amazon has publicly shared details of the dispute between the two companies. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon runs the numbers to convince you that ebooks should be cheaper

After unsuccessfully trying to charm authors, Amazon is now appealing to its customers during the ongoing war with Hachette. The retailer has revealed the reasons behind the spat, i.e. cheaper ebook prices, and the noble intentions behind it. Using... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon runs #ongoing war


Amazon Is Experimenting With A New Homepage Design

The newer, flatter design puts Kindle, Fire, and Prime categories front and center.Amazon has unveiled a new homepage design to select users, placing a new emphasis on the retail giant's biggest brands: the Kindle ebook platform, its Fire lineup of tablets and smartphones, and the Prime... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #retail giant #biggest brands #huge library #digital content #yearly fee


Amazon says $9.99 ebooks will boost revenue, including for Hachette

Amazon.com believes that pricing ebooks at US$9.99 will boost sales by over 74 percent as the books are highly price-elastic.If customers would buy 100,000 copies of a particular ebook at $14.99, then they would buy 174,000 copies of the same ebook at $9.99, boosting total revenue to $1.7... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon: 'Hachette paying authors too little on ebooks'

Hachette Book Group is “sharing too small a portion” of the revenue from ebooks with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Preston: authors 'feel betrayed' by Amazon dispute

Books “should not be treated as if they’re boxes of cereal occupying grocery store... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Claims $9.99 E-books Create 'Bigger Pie'

Amazon claims a "key objective" in its ongoing dispute with Hachette is to keep ebook prices low and competitive with other other media. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon claims #ongoing dispute


Amazon, Alloy Team for Digital Imprint

Amazon Publishing and Alloy Entertainment have partnered on a new digital-first imprint called Alloy Entertainment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Macmillan Expands Library E-book Lending

Macmillan announced today that it will make its full collection of frontlist ebook titles available to libraries via its public library e-lending pilot. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon partners with Alloy for YA digital-first imprint

Amazon Publishing in the US has partnered with Alloy Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros, to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #alloy entertainment #amazon partners #amazon publishing #warner bros


Spotlight Falls on Subscription Services

Oyster, the ebook subscription service with nearly half a million titles, launched in 2013. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tracking Amazon: 'Fifty Shades' Back on Top

After the first trailer for the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey dropped on July 24, lighting up the internet, the first book in E.L. James's trilogy shot back up to the top of Amazon's bestseller list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tracking amazon #fifty shades #film adaptation #bestseller list