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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Hell, yeah, Amazon should open more bookstores

There is collective head-scratching across the InterWebs about a Wall Street Journal report that Amazon will open as many as 300, or even 400, stores selling books. The company's massive success selling ebooks and the cost and selection advantages of warehousing their physical counterparts make... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2016-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mall Operator Says Comment ‘Not Intended To Represent Amazon’s Plans’

General Growth Properties states that its CEO's comment about Amazon bookstore expansion "was not intended to represent Amazon's plans" after widespread speculation about hundreds of new stores sweeps industry. The post Mall Operator Says Comment ‘Not Intended To Represent Amazon’s Plans’... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Audio Book Club Travels to (Lucia) Berlin

To listen to the Audio Book Club discussion of A Manual for Cleaning Women, click the arrow on the player below. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2016-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Kindle gets an update, brings improved home screen and more

When it comes to reading books, things have changed quite a bit since school days, well, depending on your age. Now many people read books on electronic devices and, while tablets are fine, the Amazon Kindle leads the way. Amazon is planning to roll out a big update to its handheld devices.... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2016-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookouture expands, hires Greenwood

Digital publisher Bookouture is expanding its editorial team by hiring Kirsty Greenwood as an associate publisher, promoting Keshini Naidoo as a second associate publisher, and hiring Natasha Hodgson as an editor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is Amazon Opening More Bookstores? It's Hiring Booksellers.

While the mall operator who said on Tuesday that Amazon intends to open up to 400 bookstores is backtracking, the tech giant has posted job openings for several bookstore positions in the San Diego/La Jolla area. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon To Open Hundreds Of Brick-And-Mortar Bookstores

After putting booksellers out of business, Amazon is set to open its own retail chain.Amazon, the online retailer that killed off so many independent bookshops, is getting ready to launch its own brick-and-mortar book chain. According to the Wall Street Journal, the CEO of a major mall operator,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2016-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Book Depository expands in Australia

Amazon-owned online retailer the Book Depository is to expand in Australia, adding more than 25,000 titles to its offer. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Rumored to Be Opening 400 Bookstores

In discussing fourth quarter results, the CEO of one of the country's largest mall operators said it is his understanding that Amazon's goal is to open 300 to 400 bookstores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At Authors United Event, a Call to Bust Amazon 'Monopoly'

If Amazon’s business practices continue unchecked the result could be a “nuclear winter” for book publishing, said Smashwords founder Mark Coker during a Jan. 27 event called Amazon’s Book Monopoly—A Threat to Freedom of Expression? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Sales Top $100 Billion

Total revenue at Amazon hit $107 billion in 2015, a 20% increase over sales in 2014. Operating income jumped to $2.2 billion in the year, from $178 million in 2014. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Is Expanding Its Burgeoning Ad Network to the Mobile Web

Facebook is expanding its ad network from just third-party apps to the mobile Web. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company will begin making its Facebook Audience Network available for publishers and advertisers outside of publishers' native apps. The Audience Network for the mobile Web will... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2016-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Winter Institute 11: Report Finds $1 Billion Tax Gap Caused by Amazon

The American Booksellers Association and Civic Economics released a report on the devastating impact of online retailing on American communities in terms of lost state and local tax revenues. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Winter Institute 11: Authors United Still Wants DoJ Probe of Amazon

“The central problem is still with us,” Authors United founder Douglas Preston said, referring to Amazon, at a Winter Institute session called Authors, Agents, and Booksellers--United for a Fair Marketplace. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors United event to discuss Amazon's 'misuse of power'

Campaign group Authors United is set to hold an event to discuss Amazon’s “enormous market power” and the "misuse" of that power, in Washington DC next week. The event, to be held on Wednesday 27th January at the New American Foundation, is entitled Amazon's Book Monopoly: A Threat to Freedom... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors United to Host Amazon Discussion

The author advocacy group critical of Amazon known as Authors United has joined with the Authors Guild to host a discussion about the retailer’s power and influence in the book trade. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Viz Expands at Walmart, Gets Into Best Buy

The manga publisher and anime distributor has reached an agreement to expand its offerings in Walmart and, for the first time, sell its titles at Best Buy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penthouse magazine plans to expand its website and move offices to L.A.

Adult magazine Penthouse will expand its website to include daily updates and more interactive content as traditional print publications continue to pivot to growing online readership. ------------FOR THE RECORD4:25 p.m.: An earlier version of this story said Penthouse would close its print... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Echo can read your Kindle books aloud on request

You don't even need to lift a finger when you're done playing Jeopardy! on Amazon Echo and want to relax with a book. Simply say "Alexa, read [Kindle book title]," and the voice assistant will start narrating almost anything you purchased from the Ki... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2016-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Prime now offers 20 percent off all new video game releases, with a catch

Amazon’s been steadily expanding the list of benefits you receive with a $99 Prime membership—two-day shipping, a library of music and movies to stream, the ability to “borrow” Kindle books—and today it added video games to the list. Sort of. Prime members now get 20 percent off video game... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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