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'


Amazon Demands New Terms from UK Publishers

The Bookseller reports that Amazon is making new demands on UK publishers, including the right to deliver POD titles to customers should a book be out of stock. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publishers #bookseller reports


New Amazon terms amount to 'assisted suicide' for book industry, experts claim

Report says publishers under heavy pressure to make damaging concessions including giving online retailer rights to print on demandBritish authors have condemned as "deeply worrying" reports that Amazon is now pressing for improved terms from publishers in the UK, as its showdown with Hachette... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry #deeply worrying #lower price


'The Silkworm' is now available on Amazon – but the shipping time keeps changing

J.K. Rowling's bestseller 'The Silkworm' – previously unavailable to Amazon customers – can now be ordered, although shipping time is still slow. 'The Silkworm' is published by Hachette, with whom Amazon is currently involved in a dispute.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon customers


German trade body files Amazon complaint

The German trade association the Börsenverein has officially lodged a complaint against... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon pressing for new terms in UK

UK publishers have raised concerns about Amazon’s new contractual arrangements, with the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publishers #raised concerns


SAGE Signs on to CCC’s ‘Get It Now’ Service

SAGE is the 100th publisher to sign on to the service, which offers library patrons and staff instant access to journal content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon phone: What does it mean for bookstores?

The new Amazon Fire phone comes with technology that allows consumers to scan an item and then purchase it on Amazon.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon phone


Amazon phone: What does it mean for bookstores? (+video)

The new Amazon Fire phone comes with technology that allows consumers to scan an item and then purchase it on Amazon.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon phone


'Silkworm' In Stock at Amazon, Climbs Charts

On June 19, the book was expected to ship in one to two months. A day later, it is in stock, with one to two days processing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon cuts delays on JK Rowling novel after consumer pressure

The Silkworm, written as Robert Galbraith, was advertised with long delivery delays, but web retailer appears to have backed down· Review: The Silkworm by JK Rowling as Robert Galbraith· Digested read: The Silkworm by Robert GalbraithAmazon.com appears to have bowed to consumer pressure and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jk rowling #robert galbraith #publisher hachette #ebook form


Audio innovation wins FutureBook Hack prize

The UK publishing industry’s first hackathon resulted in a host of fresh ideas in the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fresh ideas


'Silkworm' Up for Grabs on Amazon

The latest from J.K. Rowling as Robert Galbraith, on sale today, is available from Amazon in hardcover, shipping in 1-2 months. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #robert galbraith


Amazon unveils the "Fire Phone"

Amazon has unveiled its long-awaited smartphone - The Fire Phone -containing an in-built Kindle... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon unveils #fire phone


The real 'fire' in Amazon's smartphone? A shopping spree

You’d be forgiven for thinking Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wants to compete with other phone makers with his company’s new Fire smartphone. But forget the multiple cameras and pretty 3-D-like effects, the device is really about selling more stuff.The Fire comes with close ties to Amazon’s online... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital content #drive traffic #creative strategies #key features


Apple discounts the books Amazon refuses to stock

If you head over to iTunes and look for book pre-orders at $9.99 or less, you may notice something strange: they're all Hachette titles. That's no coincidence -- Amazon is delaying shipment on Hachette books right now, a negotiating tactic it calls... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette titles #hachette books


Oyster, the Netflix of ebooks, is expanding

Oyster, the ebook subscription service, has launched a new version of its app that is available for Android devices as well as Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook tablets. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #android devices


Amazon vs. Hachette: The Battle for the Future of Publishing

The outcome of the current Amazon/Hachette pricing war has implications for the entire publishing industry, Wharton experts and others say. Continue reading at Knowledge@Wharton

[ Knowledge@Wharton | 2014-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Oyster Brings Subscription Service to Android

Its library of more than 500,000 titles is now available on all Android devices. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #android devices


Amazon Responsible for Huge Share of Hachette Ebook Sales

Amazon is responsible for 78% for Hachette ebook sales in the UK, and 60% in the United States — which makes the company especially vulnerable. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Stephen Colbert has a new way to 'really show Amazon'

When Colbert asked viewers to pre-order Hachette author Edan Lepucki's upcoming novel 'California,' the book shot to the top of independent bookstore Powell's sales list. Now Colbert asks fans to help him get the book on The New York Times bestseller list. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephen colbert