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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Amazon Scraps HQ2 Plans for LIC

Amazon will no longer build a headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, following grassroots resistance from New Yorkers and adverse reactions from some lawmakers and unions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Taipei 2019: The Fair Opens Amid a Stable Market and an Expanding Kids' Segment

The six-day Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE) kicked off on February 12 with participation from 735 publishing houses and a roster of more than 1,000 events to promote reading and book-related activities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PubWest Keynote Focuses on Amazon's Dominance of the Book Market

In her speech, Open Markets Institute senior fellow Lina Khan said: “More than any other firm, Amazon depicts how a company can come to monopolize all sorts of markets without triggering scrutiny under our anti-monopoly laws.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Audible brings A.S. Byatt novels and stories to audio for first time

Audible is bringing the novels and short stories of A.S. Byatt to audio for the first time this month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon 2018 sales hit $232.9bn as retailer enjoys record fourth quarter

Amazon's 2018 sales increased  31% to $232.9bn as the online giant revealed a record $72bn revenue for the fourth quarter, in its latest financial results.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's 2018 Sales Topped $232 Billion

The giant company's sales increased 31% in 2018 over 2017, and its operating income tripled to $12.4 billion. Among the many reasons cited for the big 2018 financial gains was the performance of Amazon’s third-party sellers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon assembles a high-profile cast for low-key superhero series

Amazon has recruited a glitzy crew of Hollywood stars for its animated superhero show Invincible, based on the eponymous comic book co-created by The Walking Dead scribe Robert Kirkman. Leading the voice cast is TV's The Walking Dead alum Steven Yuen... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Libro.fm Brings Digital Audio to Indies

Amazon’s Audible subsidiary has dominated the downloadable audiobook market for more than a decade, but a Seattle-based rival is starting to challenge that dominance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HCG expands on Oseman’s graphic novel series

Hachette Children’s Group (HCG) has acquired two more volumes in Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series, Heartstopper. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DC Universe's expanded comic book catalog includes 'Wonder Woman'

DC Universe only has so many original shows to go around, and that means you'll need something else to do if you're going to justify that subscription. Thankfully, more is on the way. The service has unveiled the first major expansion of its comic... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wildy buys Hammicks Legal Information Services

Legal bookseller and supplier Wildy & Sons, one of London’s oldest booksellers, established in 1830, has acquired Hammicks Legal Information Services from the John Smith Group.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Amazon Crossing Kids: Translating Picture Books Into English

Translations from Portuguese, German, and Italian open the new imprint from Amazon Publishing. Releases in July, September, October. The post New Amazon Crossing Kids: Translating Picture Books Into English appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spring 2019 Audio Announcements

Audio publishers are finalizing their new titles for spring, and we’ve selected some highlights of the season ahead. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair’s Quantum Conference in March: Film, Television, Audio

This year's Quantum Conference, the annual curtain-raiser to London Book Fair, picks up on the books-to-film dynamic in content development. The post London Book Fair’s Quantum Conference in March: Film, Television, Audio appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon hits back at claims it is to blame for falling author earnings

Retailer insists Authors Guild report that criticised the online giant for contributing to tumbling writers’ incomes used flawed figures, but Guild stands by findingsAmazon has called the conclusions of a recent report into US author earnings flawed, after the Authors Guild suggested that the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Fire TV Stick now comes with Alexa Voice Remote at same affordable price

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos may be having a difficult time in his personal life right now, but professionally, the multi-billionaire is doing phenomenally. Amazon's stock is through the roof, and  there seems to be no slowing down the online retailer. Long gone are the days when the... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2019-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BA says Amazon ‘gaming system’ as £63m business rates bill revealed

The Bookseller's Assocation has warned Amazon is "gaming the system" and branded the business rates regime "unfair" yet again after it emerged the online retail giant paid £63m in business rates despite recording £8bn in UK sales. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon UK brings in ebook gifting

Amazon.co.uk has brought in a 'Buy for others' option on the detail page for Kindle books to allow people to gift ebooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Lake Union to publish up-lit debut Oliver Clock

Amazon Publishing's Lake Union imprint has won an auction to publish debut author Jane Riley's "uplifting, feel-good" novel The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Newman and Coe urge readers to turn to high street after stock delays at 'Scrooge' Amazon

Authors Cathy Newman and Jonathan Coe have urged customers to take their business to the high street this Christmas season after suffering stock shortages of their titles on Amazon.co.uk. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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