If you thought Big Tech’s dreadful year of layoffs would be confined to 2023, you’re (sadly) mistaken. Audible laid off around five percent of its employees on Thursday, which Variety reports is “just over 100 staffers.” The cuts in the audiobook division are part of parent company Amazon’s most recent round of layoffs, also affecting Prime Video, MGM, and Twitch. “We did not take this route without considerable thought,” Audible CEO Bob Carrigan reportedly said in an audio memo delivered to staff. “But getting leaner and more efficient is the way we will need to operate now — and in the foreseeable future — in order to continue delivering best-in-class audio storytelling to our customers around the world.” For those keeping score, “leaner and more efficient” echoes the language in numerous recent Big Tech layoff announcements. Variations of “In these uncertain times...” have also been popular. Carrigan ironically began by talking about Audible's strong performance last year. “I want to acknowledge the strong year we had in 2023, in which we delivered amazing listening experiences for our customers thanks to outstanding collaboration with creators and partners,” he reportedly said. “Our business is in good shape, and that is because of the hard work of each and every one of you.” The CEO extolled how much the company values its workers. “A big part of what makes working at Audible so special is our many talented and dedicated employees who bring their passion to work each... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2024-01-11 22:00:11 UTC ]
Editor of The Bookseller Philip Jones will interview former indie publisher turned audiobook pioneer Mark Pearson at the Frankfurt Book Fair, ahead of the announcement of the shortlists for this year’s FutureBook Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-16 14:44:34 UTC ]
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The audiobook version of “Catch and Kill” features first-rate reporting and some wince-worthy character work. (You do NOT want to hear him do Trump’s voice.) What: The least necessary vocal inflection in recent memory.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2019-10-16 14:20:58 UTC ]
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The Swedish Company is leading a booming digital audiobook subscription market in Europe. But is the digital subscription business sustainable for publishers? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Edmund Kemper, audiobook narrator story is sensational. The work of The Blind Project, though, is vital, important, and worth knowing. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-10-14 10:35:39 UTC ]
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Exclusive research into the growing audiobook market conducted by Harris Interactive is to presented at FutureBook Live 2019, The Bookseller's publishing conference. The study, along with panels on audiobook recording, commissioning, new technology, retailing, and podcasting will form the basis... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-06 08:41:01 UTC ]
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Actor Anthony Daniels, famed for his role as C-3PO in the “Star Wars” films is reading the audio version of his autobiography – which will also see director J J Abrams narrate his foreword. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-04 15:22:38 UTC ]
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A federal judge is set to weigh in on whether the controversial audiobook program amounts to copyright infringement—and publishers are feeling good about their chances. But should they? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In a survey of 1,502 American adults conducted from January 8 to February 7 this year, Pew found that 20% of adults listened to an audiobook in the 12 months prior to the time the survey was conducted. In 2011, only 11% of adults said they listened to an audiobook. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Led by a strong performance in its trade division, revenue at Scholastic rose 7% in the first quarter ended August 31, 2019, over the comparable period in fiscal 2019. The net loss was cut to $58.5 million, from $61.3 million in last year’s first quarter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Audials AG has released Audials One 2020, a major new version of its comprehensive stream capture suite. The suite brings together all the tools available separately in three other products: Audials Music 2020 (music and audiobook recording), Audials Movie 2020 (video streams) and Audials Radio... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2019-09-16 13:08:51 UTC ]
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Bonnier Books UK will feature recordings of convicted killers in an audiobook of true crime bestseller Talking with Serial Killers: The World’s Most Evil. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-11 20:04:55 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House has announced a star-studded cast including "Fleabag" and "Game of Thrones" actors to narrate a new series of 50 Penguin Classics audiobooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-10 22:34:58 UTC ]
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Paperback Classics, a new audiobook imprint from Oasis Family Media, will bring vintage pulp paperbacks from the 1930s to the 1970s to audio. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Margaret Atwood’s much-anticipated new novel The Testaments will be turned into a TV show by Hulu and MGM, it has been revealed. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-04 06:45:47 UTC ]
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FutureBook has launched an audio originals writing competition, which will see the winning work published as an audiobook and the successful author hosted at the FutureBook Conference. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-03 00:18:49 UTC ]
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Enter to win a a digital audio download of THE FLIGHT GIRLS Audiobook by Noelle Salazar. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-08-31 10:33:52 UTC ]
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Amazon's audiobook company Audible has agreed to delay parts of its disputed speech-to-text feature until permission and licensing issues are resolved. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-29 22:46:55 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House's parent company Bertelsmann has reported its highest first half for 12 years with €8.6bn group revenues, with PRH’s successful performance attributed to “strong bestsellers, high growth rates in audio formats, and acquisitions”. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-29 03:19:02 UTC ]
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W H Smith has been boosted by a "strong performance" of its travel stores as the retailer says it expects full year results to be in line with expectations, ahead of c.e.o. Stephen Clarke's departure. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-28 09:11:14 UTC ]
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Independent science fiction and fantasy publisher Baen Books has partnered with audiobook company RBmedia for an audiobook program. Under the agreement, the two companies will publish more than 170 audiobooks over the next three years. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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