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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Publisher protests as Amazon Japan cuts back its KU offering

After underestimating the ferocity of Japan's manga fans, Amazon has made major adjustments to the contents of its Kindle Unlimited offer in the country, while dropping some publishers from the service altogether. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Audio download chart, September 2016: non-fiction excels

Non-fiction had a strong month in the Audio Download Chart, as the Harry Potter canon is displaced from Audible’s epper echelons in September by a slew of newcomers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Bookaboo' moves to Amazon Prime Video

Amazon UK and US is launching Bookaboo as its new original kids series on Prime Video. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Despite Big Earnings Gain, Amazon Disappoints in Q3

Operating income rose 42% in the third quarter of 2016, over last year, but the increase was less than analysts had been expecting. Total sales rose 29%. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hearst Acquires Aviation Service CAMP

The publisher dives deeper into information and data with latest purchase. The post Hearst Acquires Aviation Service CAMP appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2016-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Peter Jackson adapting Mortal Engines for film

Peter Jackson, the film director behind The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, is adapting a film version of Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines (Scholastic). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #film director #film version #philip reeve


CNN will bring Anderson Cooper to the Amazon Echo

CNN has made a point of being everywhere its users are, pushing hard to be the first publisher on emerging platforms like Snapchat, Facebook Messenger. This month, it's bringing its TV broadcast to Amazon Echo, an emerging platform projected to grow substantially in the coming years. Instead of... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #emerging platforms #facebook messenger #tv broadcast #coming years #virtual assistant #real time


Jeff Bezos Isn't Convinced That the Washington Post Can Survive on Payment Services

Jeff Bezos, Amazon chief and owner of the Washington Post, isn't sure that services like paywalls and tiered subscriptions can work for publishers. During a wide-ranging panel at Vanity Fair's New Establishment Summit, Bezos talked about how he works with the Washington Post staff, as well as... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2016-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt Industry Notes: Sharjah GoH at São Paulo; Amazon Publishing Signs Strobel

Among stories coming out of Frankfurt Book Fair: a new liaison between Brazil and the UAE, and a German bestseller signs with Amazon's Edition M imprint. The post Frankfurt Industry Notes: Sharjah GoH at São Paulo; Amazon Publishing Signs Strobel appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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IPA expands 'global footprint' with five new members

The International Publishers Association General Assembly have voted to admit five new national publishing organisations from Iraq, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Morocco and Senegal, to extend its "geographical and cultural footprint" broader than it has ever been in its 120-year history. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's drone workshop opened to Cambridge schoolchildren

A group of Cambridge schoolchildren have been given access to Amazon's drone development laboratory in the city, in a tour described as the first of its kind in the world.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon appears to be considering opening more brick-and-mortar stores selling groceries and apparel

Amazon’s keen on both fashion and retail — and whether those interests ever intersect could help shape the next leg of the digital retail revolution. The Seattle-based Amazon has already opened two bookstores (three more are on the way) and multiple pop-up mall kiosks. Now the endless aisle... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four Publishers Sign for B&T’s Global Service

Beginning January 2, GPS will begin distributing titles from Sourcebooks, Glitterati Inc., Sellers Publishing, and Arcadia Publishing/The History Press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brands and publishers turn to actors and comedians to give chatbots personality

Increasingly, companies like Google are hiring writers to give their AI a more human edge. Companies building bots for platforms like Facebook and Kik can’t really compete with the resource of these tech giants. But giving bots a personality is becoming more of a competitive advantage, companies... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Audio Book Club Gets Shrill

Subscribe in iTunes ∙ RSS feed ∙ Download ∙ Play in Another Tab Slate Plus members: Get your ad-free podcast feed Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2016-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Italian Publishing Presence Expands at Frankfurt Book Fair

A fast-growing presence from the Italian industry at Frankfurt Book Fair means more events and space, along with an emphasis on Lazio and the Piedmont. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson 107 Publishers at the Italian Collective Stand loor space covered by the Italian... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Owl Field launches children's 3D audio drama

The Owl Field has created a children’s audio production using 3D (binaural) audio, thanks to The National Lottery’s Creative Scotland Open Project Funding. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing signs major Catherine Cookson deal

Amazon Publishing has acquired two new and unseen titles by the late novelist Catherine Cookson, including a memoir. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon and EU 'in settlement talks' over ebook investigation

Amazon Inc and European Union regulators have started settlement discussions over the internet giant’s ebook deals with publishers, according to news reports. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Adds Free Books to the Ever-Growing List of Prime Benefits

US Prime members can now get unlimited access to a rotating selection of reading materials. The post Amazon Adds Free Books to the Ever-Growing List of Prime Benefits appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2016-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ever-growing list #prime members #unlimited access #rotating selection