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 title on Financial Times shortlist

The Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year shortlist has been announced,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year shortlist


How Did Newspapers Blow It? Not Enough Engineers, NYT Publisher Says

It would be hard to single out just one mistake from the news industry’s fumbled transition to the Internet era. But the most important newspaper publisher in America—Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. of the New York Times—says one ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #internet era #arthur sulzberger


Amazon once again gets exclusive streaming rights for Under the Dome

Many of novelist Stephen King's books and short stories have found their way to the screen either through a movie or mini-series. Some, like The Shining, have become classics in the eyes of fans, while others...well... This season a King novel has returned the author to prominence on the small... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #summer season #short stories


Amazon has '79% of ebook market in UK'

An Ofcom study into consumers' digital consumption has found that Amazon has a dominant 79%... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook market #digital consumption


Storify Acquired by Web Publishing Services Company Livefyre

Storify, a digital storytelling tool used by journalists to surface conversations that originate on social media, has been acquired by the Web publishing services company Livefyre. Livefyre plans to fold Storify into its StreamHub product, which offers Web publishers tools for commenting, live... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2013-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #live chats #publisher clients #user-generated content #potential implications


Livefyre Acquires Storify to Expand Its Social-Media Curation Platform

Livefyre, a provider of comment-hosting tools for online publishers that has been expanding into other areas of social content, has agreed to acquire Storify — a service that allows users to curate conversations from Twitter, ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online publishers


Oyster, a Netflix for ebooks, is promising to rival Apple, Amazon

Netflix did it with movies. Spotify did it with music. And now a New York start-up hopes to do the same with ebooks.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rival apple #york start-


Amazon's Kindle MatchBook will let consumers buy print and ebook versions together

The new program, which is scheduled to launch in October, would let Amazon users buy a discounted ebook for qualifying titles if they bought the print version as well. But many publishers have yet to come aboard. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle matchbook #ebook versions #print version


Amazon bundles print and ebooks

Amazon is to offer US shoppers the ability to obtain digital copies of previously purchased printed books for free or at a discount. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon Launches Kindle Reader With Goodreads Integration

Looks like Amazon is making good use of its Goodreads acquisition. When it debuted the latest Kindle e–reader Tuesday, among the features and specs touted––faster processor, higher–contrast screen, next–gen light––was Goodreads integration, giving readers a built–in community of 20 million to... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #price points #previous generation #selected books


Amazon lights a Matchbook

Playing with fire is generally considered bad practice -- I know, as a parent I recommend my kids avoid it. Amazon, however has a whole new Matchbook that it can not wait to set alight. In this case, thankfully, there are no pyrotechnics involved -- just some good literature. Today the online... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good literature #kindle edition #print books #dating back


Amazon launches Kindle Matchbook: discounted ebooks for those who own the hard copy

When Amazon launched AutoRip, we looked at our bookshelves and wished that us readers would get something similar. Fortunately, the company had the same idea, and is now announcing Kindle Matchbook. In short, if you've bought one of 10,000 selected titles from Amazon, you'll be entitled to snag... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #discounted ebooks #hard copy #ve bought #digital copy #service launches #kindle matchbook


Amazon US offers ebook/print bundling

Amazon has unveiled a new US initiative to bundle print and ebooks, called Kindle MatchBook.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bundle print


Kindle MatchBook: Re–Purchase your Library from Amazon for $2.99 or less

In October Amazon launches Kindle MatchBook, an arrangement that lets you purchase the Kindle edition of books you've already bought from them in print for $2.99 or less. The agreement currently covers about 10,000 books from a variety of publishers, and the prices are valid for any book... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle edition #book published #virtual doors #record industry #enables customers #record labels


Amazon's Kindle MatchBook turns past print purchases into low-cost ebooks

It's yet another step in Amazon's merging of the physical and digital worlds—and another ploy for platform lock-in. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon's New Offer: Discounted Kindle Versions of Print Books You've Already Bought

Amazon said on Tuesday that it will unveil a program that will let Amazon customers purchase the digital versions of print books they've already bought -- or will buy -- from Amazon, for $2.99 or less. The initiative, called Kindle MatchBook, will launch in October with at least 10,000... Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print books #digital versions


Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite officially announced, ships September 30th

In case you needed official confirmation, Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite is indeed real and on the way. While we still don't have much in the way of specifics, according to the public listing, we do know that the refreshed Paperwhite should arrive with a 25-percent faster processor, improved... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book recommendations #reported earlier


Ka-ching! Amazon explains benefits from ebook price-fixing settlement

The direct results of the ebook price fixing scandal between Apple and the five major U.S. book publishers are one-step closer to turning into real money for millions of Amazon customers. The online retailer recently began sending out e-mail notifications to Kindle ebook buyers telling... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishers #court approves #attorneys general


Amazon launches Mexico Kindle store

Amazon has launched the Kindle store in Mexico with over 70,000 Spanish language ebooks. The e-... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle store


Smashwords Debuts India E-book Distribution, Preorder Services

Smashwords, a self-publishing platform and indie ebook distributor, has launched a series of new features to aid authors and publishers in distribution and marketing of ebooks. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-publishing platform