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 ]
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James Patterson calls Amazon's practices 'a national tragedy'

Patterson criticized Amazon's practices while accepting an award for being an Indie Champion at Book Expo America.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fall 2014 Audio

Audio publishers are putting their stamp on a bumper crop of titles this season and we’ve gathered together some of our favorite highlights from their forthcoming lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audio publishers #bumper crop #ve gathered


BEA 2014: Amazon’s 'Bullying' Dominates Bookseller Sessions

ABA's Oren Teicher speaks out against Amazon’s “bullying assault of a major publisher” at the ABA annual meeting. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Strong Traffic, Talk of Amazon-Hachette

Show-goers have been impressed with BookExpo America 2014 so far, saying it's one of the most exciting and energetic in recent years. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon not ready to bury the Hachette

Amazon.com Inc. said it is "not optimistic" that a dispute with publisher Hachette Book Group will be resolved soon and added that it is acting "on behalf of customers." The comments, which Amazon... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: China Looks Forward to Expanding Communication, Cooperation, and Commerce

Next year China is the guest of honor at Book Expo America’s Global Market Forum and is planning a host of events for the occasion. Vice Minister Wu Shulin details his country’s goals and expectations in this interview with Publishers Weekly. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How the Amazon-Hachette Fight Could Shape the Future of Ideas

While the bookseller and publisher are battling over mundane business specifics, the state of publishing hangs in the balance. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon war with Hachette over ebook profit margins intensifies

Dispute has also dragged in authors including JK Rowling and James PattersonIt is another mystery for inspector Rebus to solve. Why is Amazon UK selling Saints of the Shadow Bible, the latest instalment of Ian Rankin's best-selling series about the Edinburgh sleuth, for half the price being... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ian rankin #cover price #latest instalment


Amazon steps up publisher spat

Amazon has said a bitter dispute with publisher Hachette, which has led to a block on pre-orders, will not be resolved soon. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon 'Not Optimistic' It Will Resume Selling Hachette Books Normally Soon

Amazon.com said it is "not optimistic" that a dispute with publisher Hachette Book Group will be resolved soon and added that it is acting "on behalf of customers."The comments, which Amazon made yesterday in an online post, are the first extensive remarks by the world's largest online retailer... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Madefire Expands with Barker, Archie, Lion Forge and Arcana

Madefire, The Berkeley, CA-based digital media company known for producing partially animated “Motion Book” comics has added four more publishers to their lineup. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette US: Amazon actions 'affect authors' lives'

Hachette Book Group in the US has continued the public discussion of its terms battle with Amazon... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Can Anyone Compete with Amazon?

With Amazon's Tuesday evening blog post that it doesn't expect its dispute with the Hachette Book Group to end any time soon, the standoff between the company and one of its vendors is once again showing just how much leverage the online giant enjoys in the book marketplace. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon tells customers to shop elsewhere in Hachette row

Row between world's largest distributor of books and publisher over ebook royalties shows no sign of being resolvedAmazon has advised readers to buy from other retailers after breaking its silence over a high-profile dispute with the publisher Hachette, which has drawn in the British authors Ian... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon speaks out on HBG dispute

The usually reticent Amazon has spoken out over its terms stand-off with Hachette Book Group in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon escalates standoff with publisher Hachette Book Group

If you're hoping to pre-order books by J.K. Rowling, Michael Connelly and other Hachette Book Group authors, you'll have to go somewhere besides Amazon.com. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tracking Amazon: 'Silent Spring' Moves and Shakes

Thanks to a Google Doodle commemorating Rachel Carson's 107th birthday on May 27, the writer and environmentalist's signature work, "Silent Spring," jumped nearly 3,000 spots on Amazon's bestseller list on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Says Hachette Dispute Likely to Drag On

Amazon has finally broken its silence over the dispute with Hachette, saying that while the two sides are working hard, the company is “not optimistic [the issue] will be resolved soon.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette US 'seeks solution' to Amazon dispute

Hachette Book Group in the US has said it is doing “everything in our power to find a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon halts sales of some Hachette books as publishing battle escalates

Hachette author Jeffery Deaver among those speaking out against Amazon's decision to stop selling certain Hachette titlesStray punches in a corporate slugfest knocked spectacles from authors noses and left readers with black eyes this week, after Amazon, the online retailer, stopped selling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online retailer #titles published #put pressure