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'


Scribd Ends Comics Subscription Service

After launching the category in 2015 with much fanfare, Scribd has now quietly ended subscription access to comics and graphic novels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-01-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic novels


The Top 10 Print Book and Amazon Kindle Bestsellers of 2016

The new Harry Potter book was by far the bestselling print title of 2016, and 'The Girl On the Train' was a major print and ebook bestseller for the second year in a row. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon Books Opening in Manhattan, Second Store Slated for Boston

The mega-retailer is picking up the pace of its bookstore openings, with a new store slated for NYC and a second for the Boston area before its first one even opens. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #boston area #store slated #bookstore openings


Joe Wicks tops Amazon trends report

Joe Wicks was the bestselling author in print on Amazon's UK website last year, according to the internet giant’s 2016 Trends Report. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joe wicks #bestselling author #uk website #internet giant


Comedian James Acaster's 'Classic Scrapes' to Headline

Comedian James Acaster is publishing a collection of comic anecdotes, entitled James Acaster’s Classic Scrapes. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Audio download chart, November 2016: Reach(er) for the stars

Lee Child takes the Audible download top spot with his latest Jack Reacher adventure, Night School. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #night school


You Can Now Listen to Live Audio Content on Facebook

Facebook Live isn't just for video. Today the social network launched a new feature dubbed Live Audio that lets users listen to broadcast voice recordings, pushing more audio-only content into newsfeeds. Similar to Facebook Live videos, users can go live from the Facebook app by pressing a... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #live event #news outlet #reach audiences #adam grant


'Ambitious' W H Smith aims to expand Bookshop portfolio

W H Smith is “very ambitious” about its new dedicated Bookshop store and is keen to roll the format out to other travel locations, The Bookseller can reveal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


White Review Short Story prize to expand to US and Canada

Annual short story competition the White Review Short Story Prize will be running simultaneously in the UK & Ireland and in the US & Canada for the first time next year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon begins UK drone deliveries

Amazon has begun using drones to deliver parcels to customers in the UK, in a limited trial. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #deliver parcels


'Heartbreaking' cuts to Swindon library service finalised

Swindon Council's scrutiny committee has passed plans to close two thirds of the town's libraries by the end of August 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #swindon council


Sarah Smith Named Editorial Director at Amazon

Sarah Smith has joined Amazon as editorial director for print and Kindle books, where she will oversee the books editorial team. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joined amazon #kindle books


Jill Corcoran Expands into Adult Market

Jill Corcoran Literary Agency, in an effort to both extend its reach in the children's book market and expand into the adult book market, has announced the addition of four new agents. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #adult market #book market


Sick Amazon workers 'threatened with dismissal'

Amazon employees are being threatened with the sack if they take four days off sick, even if they have permission from a doctor, according to a Sunday Times investigation. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon employees


Amazon Alexa, HCCP Collaborate on Daily Devotionals

Marking the first collaboration between a book publisher and Amazon Alexa, HarperCollins Christian Publishing is launching a devotionals skill for retail giant’s “intelligent assistant” starting December 12. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon alexa #book publisher #retail giant


Back to The FutureBook: Audio Gets Its Own Channel at the Conference

Amid rising audiobook sales, the FutureBook Conference's focus on the sector offered upbeat statistics and audience demographics. The post Back to The FutureBook: Audio Gets Its Own Channel at the Conference appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #futurebook conference #post back #audience demographics


'Cursed Child' Top Selling Book at Amazon in 2016

'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts 1 and 2' was Amazon's best-selling book of 2016 and was also the year's "most wished for" and "most gifted" book at the e-tailer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling book #cursed child #harry potter


Comedian Olaf Falafel signs with HarperCollins Children's

HarperCollins Children’s Books has signed a picture book deal with comedian Olaf Falafel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins children


Amazon Takes $80 off Fire Tablet and Tap When Bought Together, Today Only - Deal Alert

Today only, if you bundle together Amazon's Fire Tablet and Tap, you'll save $80 on the two. The bundle includes the Fire Tablet with 7" Display, Wi-Fi, and 16 GB of storage, and Amazon Tap, the Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker. With the Fire tablet from Amazon you can enjoy millions of... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bought separately #bundle includes #fire tablet #enjoy millions #tv shows #kindle ebooks #play music


Audio market has not reached 'full potential'

Book industry players need to work closer together to ensure the audiobook market reaches its full potential, Laurence Howell, senior director at Audible UK, told the FutureBook Conference today. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audio market #full potential #senior director #audible uk