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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Libraries Offer Many Services, But Reading Is Foundational

PW library columnist Sari Feldman on how putting books first has proven to be a winning strategy for her library. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why 4 Famous Magazines Are Collaborating With Amazon to Transport Readers to the 1950s

In June, select subscriber covers of Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Redbook and Woman's Day will transport readers back to the 1950s. As part of a collaboration with Amazon, the four Hearst titles will have special, peel-off top covers with the logos and fonts the titles used in the 50s, as... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2018-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Index Exchange expands as ad tech consolidation looms

Index Exchange said Wednesday that it is hiring 200 staffers by the end of this year, bringing its total headcount to 520 and signaling growth even as the overpopulated ad-tech business continues to consolidate.The company says its expansion is not only happening without outside investors, but... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bonnier and Faber signal intent in audio

Bonnier publishing has vowed to double its audio output within three years with the launch of a standalone audio division, while Faber is to renew and expand its commitment to audio, The Bookseller Daily can reveal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair 2018: Why Amazon’s 'Digital Roots' Will Reshape Physical Retail

On a Christmas Eve shopping visit to the bustling Amazon Books in New York, journalist Cherie Hu realized that Amazon had flipped the table on the analog environment of traditional bookselling. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon and Brexit fuel territoriality fears

The increased visibility of international editions on Amazon’s Global Store is fuelling fears that the retailer’s approach is incompatible with local rights-based publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair’s Quantum Conference: Rethinking Business, Rehearing Audio

Much as the afternoon focused on publishing's return to audiobooks as a growth center in the business, London Book Fair's Quantum conference audience was encouraged to review its assumptions. The post London Book Fair’s Quantum Conference: Rethinking Business, Rehearing Audio appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon UK reveals gender pay gap of 0.7% in women's favour

Amazon has published the gender pay gap for its UK operations, revealing a median gender pay gap of -0.7% in favour of women and a mean gender pay gap of 6.1% in favour of men. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon shares fall after Trump's Twitter attacks

Amazon shares took a hit after President Donald Trump attacked the online store on social media, this time accusing it of not being on a "level playing field" with “fully tax paying retailers” and of ripping off the US postal service. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Key Rights Offers on Deck: Amazon Publishing Titles at Bologna and London Book Fairs

This week at Bologna International Children's Book Fair and then at London Book Fair April 10 to 12, the Amazon Publishing foreign rights team packs new titles–—and the retail muscle to make all boats float. The post Key Rights Offers on Deck: Amazon Publishing Titles at Bologna and London Book... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple expands test to sell ads in Apple News

Apple News is expanding its DoubleClick for Publishers test to publishers just as they look harder for ways to monetize their content outside of Facebook. The post Apple expands test to sell ads in Apple News appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Are Urged to Monitor Amazon Buy Buttons

The e-tailer's year-old strategy of letting third party sellers compete for buy buttons is here to stay. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New European digital tax to ensure Amazon pays 'fair' share

Amazon may be forced to pay a new tax proposed by the European Commission on EU operations of digital businesses. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Audio Publishers Association Names Its Four Top Finalist Contenders for the 2018 Audie Awards

Concluding its two-stage release of finalist announcements, the Audio Publishers Association names the four top category candidates in this year's Audie Awards. The post Audio Publishers Association Names Its Four Top Finalist Contenders for the 2018 Audie Awards appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poland’s Ebook and Audiobook Subscription Service Legimi Plans IPO for International Expansion

Announcing an IPO on the Warsaw Stock Exchange's NewConnect index for this year, Poland's Legimi ebook and audiobook subscription pursues development in Germany, China. The post Poland’s Ebook and Audiobook Subscription Service Legimi Plans IPO for International Expansion appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Echo now reads your first Audible book for free

Amazon has a new way to reel you into Audible now that smart speakers are a big deal: give you a freebie just by asking. As of this week, anyone who's new to Audible can ask an Echo speaker to read a full audiobook at no cost. You don't have to be pi... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Books heading to Pacific Palisades as new village center takes shape

Just a few years ago it was said that Pacific Palisades’ tiny commercial center had the beaten-down aura of a Midwestern Main Street where the mom-and-pop shops have been driven out by Walmart — only there was no Walmart. “It was a little village with one or two streets of stores and... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins buys full audio rights for nine Philippa Gregory backlist books

HarperCollins has closed a deal with historical novelist Philippa Gregory for full audio rights for nine of her backlist titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook expands breaking news label to more publishers

Facebook began testing a "breaking news" label for developing stories back in November, and now the social network is expanding the option to more publishers. Starting this week, the company says 50 more outlets in North America, Latin America, Europ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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