Audiobook Growth Continues - Publishers Weekly

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere the Panzermobile was shaken by clapping and cheering outside. Following all the jocularity, took our adventuresome kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about audio books.

 

MeWoW!

According to Shannon Maughan's post, in 2021 the Audio Publishers Association (APA) estimates audiobook  sales to be $1.6 billion. That amount is based on APA's membership reported sales figures. This is a 25 percent increase over 2020.

 

Panzer says, "$1.6 billion!"

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to Audio book

Audible Rolls Out Lower-priced Subscription Plan - Publishers Weekly

Didn't take long for that to happen.

Today Panzer's afternoon nap was interrupted by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile, our adventuresome kitty followed all the jocularity to the Publishers Weekly site. With hardly any digging at all he found a post about Audible's new subscription plan was causing all the excitement.

According to the post by Shannon Maughan, Amazon's Aubible announced the implementation of a new subscription service. The new plan is called Audible Plus. For $7.95 per month it will give subscribers access to Audible Originals, podcasts and audiobooks developed by Audible. Audible's $14.95 per month subscription plan will remain but will be renamed Audible Premium Plus.

Panzer says, "Yesterday's post was about Spotify coming to the U.S. with an audio book subscription service. Guess Amazon's Audible already knew about that."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Audible subscription plan

APA Revamps Audie Awards, Gala - Publishers Weekly (PW)

On today's trip into the Catosphere Panzer made a stop at the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. With just a little digging our inquisitive kitty found a post about the Audie Awards.

According to Shannon Maugan, the Audio Publishers Association has made changes to the Audie Awards program. The Audie Awards are presented to audio books each year. The APA has changed the categories and lowered the number of awards. The date of the awards presentation has also been changed to March 4, 2019 as well as the location to New York, NY. The submission deadlines have also changed. There's a link to the rules included in the post.

Guess we're not smart enough to be judges.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... There's a new rule for picking the Audiobook of the Year too. High profile authors (that means famous) will be the judges."

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

To read the post tootle over to Audies

Witherspoon Brings Hello Sunshine to Audible - Publishers Weekly (PW)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the hullabaloo took our fearless kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. With hardly any digging at all he found a post about Audible.

Sooner or later, all good things cost money.

According to the post by Publishers Weekly's (PW) Shannon Maughan, Audible and Hello Sunshine have announced their partnership. Hello Sunshine is Reese Witherspoon's company formed to help bring books with strong female characters to the public's attention. To help with this endeavor Ms. Witherspoon also started Reese's Book Club. Now Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine will be available on Audible in June. This will allow Hello Sunshine to expand its female centered books into the audio realm.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I guess that means only Audible subscribers have access to Reece's Book Club x Hello Sunshine now."

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

To read the post tootle over to Audible

Audible Launches Dedicated Romance Service - Publishers Weekly

It's only the first day and I'm so tired.

Today is the beginning of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), so Panzer got a late start into the Catosphere. Our sleepy little kitty boy made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There he found a post about Amazon's Audible.

According to the post by Shannon Maughan, Audible, Amazon's audio book arm, has added a new membership category called Audible Romance. A membership in Audible Romance is $14.95 per month. If, however, you already have a regular Audible membership, it's only an additional $6.95 per month to add the new service. Listeners will be able to choose their romance audio books based on a Steaminess Score. There are stages to the score starting with Sweet and getting hotter from there.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Does Audible have an Audible Mystery category? ... And ... Do they have a Dead Villain Score?"

Note: This is a longish post. Bring half a thermos of cocoa and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Audible Romance

Audible Unveils Short Form Audio Streaming Service - PW

Panzer did a quick trip into the Catosphere today and went to the Publishers' Weekly site. After a little digging around there he found a post about Audible.

Amazon is everywhere.

According to the post by Shannon Maughan, Amazon's Audible has launched a new service called Channels. The service will have short selected newspaper content, lectures, and entertainment. There will not be audio books. Audible subscribers will get the service free of charge. Non-subscribers will be charged a monthly fee.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Sounds a lot like YouTube with a fee to this kitty cat."

Note: This is a longish post. Bring a glass of lemonade and a muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Audible

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" Play to Be Published as a Book - PW (Publishers Weekly)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard shouting and clapping sounds. Following all the noise took our kitty pilot to the Publishers' Weekly site. It didn't take any digging at all to find the cause of all the cheering. Right on top of the pile was an announcement about a new Harry Potter book.

Things aren't always what they say.

According to a post by Shannon Maughan, the new Harry Potter book is the script for a play set to open in London this summer. The script is for the play written by Jack Thorne called "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II." The play is based on a story written by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. The book will be published just before the play opens. A second edition called a "Collector's Edition" will be published later.

Panzer says, "Not exactly a new Harry Potter book if you ask this kitty."

Note: You'll need a glass of milk and a muffin for your reading today.

To read the post, tootle over to new publishing project