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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International Industry Notes: Australia’s Jefferis Shortlist, Hachette Audio’s Audiobook Soundtracks

Although open to men as well as women, the Jefferis Award has yet to go to a male writer. And some Hachette Audio YA titles have Booktrack scores. The post International Industry Notes: Australia’s Jefferis Shortlist, Hachette Audio’s Audiobook Soundtracks appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette audio #male writer


Amazon's latest Prime perk is free books and magazines

While members of the Amazon Prime club get all kinds of benefits with their subscription, bookworms don't receive a great deal of special treatment. Sure, they can borrow one ebook for free each month and access new novels early, but the all-you-can... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2016-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Prime subscribers now have free ebooks, magazines and more with Prime Reading

If you have been looking for one more reason to become an Amazon Prime subscriber, the newly launched Prime Reading feature could just be the clincher. Prime Reading gives US subscribers access to a library of free Kindle ebooks, magazines, comics and other publications completely free of... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2016-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Prime Members Now Get Unlimited Reading On Any Device, Amazon Announces - Deal Alert

Amazon has just announced one more compelling reason to consider a Prime membership -- "Prime Reading". As a Prime member, you now have unlimited access to over a thousand books, current issue magazines, comics, Kindle Singles, and more. With access from any device – including your phone,... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DK launches audio walking tours app

DK is launching an audio app this month providing free walking tours of "two of the most visited cities in the world" - London and New York. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Look Inside an Amazon Pop-Up

Amazon has opened 26 pop-up stores at malls in 13 states, and it's projected the retailer will have 100 of these locations open by next year. We take a look inside one of these pop-ups, at the Natick Mall in Natick, Mass. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Westchester Publishing Services Buys Kinetic

The Danbury-based company adds complementary composition services through its acquisition of Kinetic Publishing Services. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Audio publisher Bar-Kar to leave PRH

Audio publisher at Penguin Random House UK, Videl Bar-Kar, has decided to leave the company after three years. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google, Facebook, Amazon, IBM and Microsoft Team Up to Make Artificial Intelligence Less Scary

The Partnership on Artificial Intelligence to Benefit People and Society was unveiled today by Google, Facebook, Amazon, IBM and Microsoft. Indeed, that's quite a name and quite a list of companies. Their chief mission is to promote public understanding of AI while developing standards and... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon is 'kids favourite online retailer'

Amazon is children's favourite online retailer, statistics from kids marketing platform SuperAwesome have revealed, with 54% of girls and 47% of boys, aged between 7 and 9 years old favouring the online giant. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle for Kids bundle offers children's books for $99

To offer kids a way to read via Kindle, Amazon is back with another $99 bundle. The Kindle for Kids offer combines the latest e-reader with a cover and a "2-year worry-free guarantee." It's meant to boost reading habits for children complete with too... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2016-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Audio download chart, August 2016: Girl on the Train steamrolls competition

A familiar face tops the audiobook list, while the new play script helps Harry Potter sweep seven of the top 20 chart places. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon competitors left 'fighting for scraps' in ebook market

Amazon’s dominance in the UK ebook market is so huge that other competitors are left "fighting for scraps” tech entrepreneurs have said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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David Cameron's memoirs to be based on audio diary

Former prime minister David Cameron's memoirs will be based on a "frank" audio diary he kept during his time in office. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Books store opens in Southern California

Amazon Books, the e-commerce giant’s seemingly incongruous bricks-and-mortar venture, is now open in San Diego. The store marks the company’s second foray into offline retail. The 3,500-square-foot shop at a mall in the University City neighborhood premiered with little fanfare Sept. 7 and is... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Audio Book Club Hangs Out With the Girls

To listen to the Audio Book Club discussion of The Girls, click the arrow on the player below. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2016-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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10 best books of September 2016, according to Amazon's editors

With a chill in the air, it's the perfect time to head back into the house and curl up under a blanket with a good book. Looking for a captivating novel? Intriguing nonfiction? You're sure to find something that suits your interests on this list of the 10 best books to be released this month,... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon launches bursary for female tech students

Amazon has launched a new programme to help young women from less advantaged backgrounds begin careers in innovation and technology. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon announces Fire HD 8 with quad-core processor and 12-hour battery life

Today, Amazon reveals details of the latest addition to its Fire range of tablets, the Fire HD 8. As the name would suggest, this is an 8-inch tablet and the key selling point is the fact that it is absolutely dirt cheap. Of course, this is not its only selling point: there's also 12 hours of... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2016-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Central Recovery Press, Beacon Press Launch Audio Imprints

Las Vegas-based Central Recovery Press and Boston’s Beacon Press are the latest independent publishers to jump into the booming audio segment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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