9 Reasons Audiobook Growth Is Soaring - DBW

An audiobook for cats? I'd listen.

Today, Panzer made a trip to the DBW site. Our traveling kitty boy hasn't been there for a while. With a little digging around he found a post about audiobooks.

According to the post by Sandy McDowell, audiobook sales are climbing. The post lists nine reasons for this growth. Reasons mentioned by Ms. McDowell range from enjoying listening to a storyteller to the companionship of hearing another voice. There are more reasons listed between these two. Also included are links specific to some of the reasons listed, like a link to the best free audiobook sites.

Panzer says, "You can take a survey at the end about audiobooks, too."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to audiobook growth

Trending Up: What's Fueling and Feeding the Audiobook Boom? - Digital Book World (DBW)

Today, Panzer stopped in at the Digital Book World (DBW) site. He hasn't been there for a while. After some digging our traveling kitty reporter found a post about the growth of audiobooks.

A kitty nap-time audiobook, please.

According to the post by Beth Bacon, audiobooks have been generating increasing sales and readership. The post attributes the increases to four things. The first is the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, apps for cars, and in-home audio equipment. The second is the addition of younger listeners (20s) to the already established listeners (30s through 50s). The third is the ease with which authors, publishers and agents can produce audiobooks. And, finally, the fourth is the expanded availability of audiobooks in libraries and multiple online retail locations.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... In-home audio equipment? ... Apps for cars? ... Those are new ones to this little kitty."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of tea and five muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to audiobooks

3 Facebook Changes You Need to Know About - dbw (Digital Book World)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today just enjoy the quiet day. Our traveling kitty boy decided to make a quick stop at the dbw (Digital Book World) site. There he found some news about Facebook.

Don't let them out of your sight.

According to the post by Chris Syme, Facebook has made three changes that authors need to pay attention to. First, Facebook has changed their 20 percent text ad rule. What this means for authors is the more text in your ads, the higher the cost, and the lower the distribution. Second, Facebook has changed the Friends and Family rules. Authors need to ask their fans to "designate your page as one they want to 'See First'." And finally, third, Facebook has changed your page layout. It's not your imagination. Your page is different.

Panzer says, "Facebook must have gotten tired of changing your privacy settings and decided to confuse you by changing other stuff."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Facebook

Amazon's Grandinetti Speaks At DBW

I'm above the fray.

Panzer followed some whispering voices through the Catosphere to the Publishers' Weekly site. Our big black kitty reporter found an enlightening post by Calvin Reid there. If you're adept at reading between the lines like our kitty boy is, there's some interesting information in the post.

According to Mr. Reid, Amazon's Russ Grandinetti was at Digital Book World. Mr. Grandinetti was questioned by DBW representatives about the author unhappiness with Kindle Unlimited. Specifically, authors are dismayed by their diminished royalties since joining KU. According to Mr. Grandinetti, changes have been made to address the authors' issues.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... If the issues have been addressed, why are authors still leaving the program?"

Warning: This is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post and also has information on the Hachette contract, Amazon's size, and other subscription platforms.

To read the post, tootle over to Grandinetti speaks at DBW