Spotify launched its audiobook business just last month with 300,000 titles, but is now saying that Apple is engaging in "anticompetitive" behavior that is impinging the new business, the company wrote in a blog post. It said that Apple rejected its audiobook purchasing system three times due to a violation of its rules. To comply, it had to hide the price of the audiobooks and do sales outside of the main app via an email link.All of that makes it harder for Spotify to compete, as users can't easily compare prices. "[This] harms not only consumers, but, this time, also authors and publishers who now find themselves under Apple’s thumb." It's also highly inconvenient for buyers used to simply clicking on a link to buy an audiobook.Spotify's audiobooks could have easily been accepted if the company had followed the App Store rules, Apple told The New York Times. "We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance," an Apple spokesperson said.Spotify could also have sold its audiobooks through the App Store's purchasing system, but Apple would then take a 30 percent cut — putting Spotify's audiobooks at a considerable disadvantage against Apple Books. "With our Audiobooks launch, Apple has once again proven just how brazen it is willing to be with its App Store rules, constantly shifting the goalposts to disadvantage their competitors," said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek.Spotify is already... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2022-10-26 07:02:10 UTC ]
"I gagged when it was revealed who Justin Timberlake was throwing on a blaccent for." Continue reading at HuffPost
[ HuffPost | 2023-10-28 12:00:26 UTC ]
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Michelle Obama will perform the digital audiobook edition of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, coming October 31! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-10-25 11:45:24 UTC ]
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The actor Michelle Williams reads the audiobook version of the recently liberated pop star’s memoir, “The Woman in Me.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-10-24 21:32:55 UTC ]
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Britney Spears said that 'reliving everything' in her memoir, 'The Woman in Me,' has been 'heart-wrenching,' so she's only recording an intro for the audiobook. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-13 17:27:42 UTC ]
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The industry body says the music giant’s move to make more than 150,000 titles available has not been discussed with authors and may compete with salesThe Society of Authors (SoA) has said it is “deeply concerned” about Spotify’s new audiobook provision. The industry body cited “the devastating... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-10-11 15:40:05 UTC ]
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It’s both strange and enlightening to move through the world with an author’s voice filling your ears. Continue reading at New Yorker
[ New Yorker | 2023-10-11 10:00:00 UTC ]
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From Hamlet to The Princess Bride to audiobook narration, here are the bookish roles Mandy Patinkin has taken on in his storied career. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-10-10 10:32:00 UTC ]
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This is the most familiar thing in the world, the engineer’s voice in my headphones, me in the sound booth, him at the board. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in recording studios, tracking drums, and I’m accustomed to taking direction and criticism: you were dragging behind the click; your energy... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-04 08:35:37 UTC ]
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Ek blames Apple for holding back his company’s first foray into audiobooks and confirms his company is in talks with Google about in-app purchases. Spotify is doubling down on audiobooks: Paying subscribers of the music service will now have access to up to 15 hours of audiobook listening as... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2023-10-03 16:30:00 UTC ]
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The Vivaldi browser, which has been in beta testing for iOS devices over the past few months, is ready for a public release. Vivaldi for iPhones and iPads is now available for download from the App Store, bringing with it the features Android and desktop users have been... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-09-28 07:00:35 UTC ]
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Travel is all about broadening your horizons. But when you’re at the airport, stuck in a cab, or on a train, it can feel pretty restricting. Transit time is a great time to catch up on your reading, though, and when you have Headway, you can access a world of learning right from your... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2023-09-22 08:00:00 UTC ]
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The private equity firm KKR has completed its sale of audiobook publisher RBmedia to investment firm H.I.G. Capital and private equity firm Francisco Partners. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Not all international audiobook markets are evolving at the same pace, according to speakers at the second online Frankfurt Rights Meeting. The post Frankfurt Rights Meeting 2: Developments in Audio appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-09-16 00:02:33 UTC ]
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Kate Winkler Dawson’s audiobook original reveals the origins of a society of occult-obsessed supernaturalists that included Dickens, Doyle, Yeats and more. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-08-18 09:00:23 UTC ]
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When asked to narrate an audiobook of machine-generated verse, Mr. Herzog readily agreed. “I wasn’t the best choice,” he said. “I was the only choice.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-08-14 09:00:32 UTC ]
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Actor Christine Baranski and New York Times theater critic Jesse Green join host Jo Reed in a special bonus edition of Behind the Mic. The two teamed up to create the audiobook of Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers, written by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green. Mary Rodgers was the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-11 08:22:34 UTC ]
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These video game and audiobook pairings complement each other for the ideal playing and listening experience. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-08-10 10:34:00 UTC ]
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If your fingers are itching to put together a puzzle and you're delighted by bookish things, get into these bookish jigsaw puzzles.- Jamie Canaves Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-08-07 10:31:00 UTC ]
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The seven-year-old Seattle-based Libro.fm opens a Bookshop.org-style audiobook-selling service in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The post Libro.fm Opens, Audiobook Sales Through Local Bookstores appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-07-26 13:34:20 UTC ]
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In what is likely a record price for an audiobook publisher, KKR, the private equity firm that owns RBmedia—and a rumored contender to buy S&S—is selling the company for an alleged $1 billion sum. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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