Audiobook Publishers Basics
Three ways to get started in the audio book business
Surveys conducted in 2008 by the Audio Publisher Association show that sales of audio books (also called "audiobooks") exceeded $1 billion within a one year time frame, making the audio book business very lucrative. An increasing number of Americans--28%--listened to audio books within that same year. Audio books are no longer just for the blind or very young; in today's busy world, active Americans are listening to more and more books as they exercise, commute or work at manual jobs.How can you profit from this trend? There are several paths; one is to seek a traditional publisher for your book and encourage them to release it in audio, as well as print, format. Another route is to seek an audio-only publisher. And yet another path is to self-publish your book in audio format, selling it either as a download on the Internet or in more traditional CD format. Consider the steps you should take:
1. Gain a good understanding of the audiobook business.
2. Seek out appropriate audiobook publishers.
3. Consider self-publishing audiobooks.
Understand audiobook publishers basics
It's at least as difficult to get your audio book released as it is to get a print book published. In fact, major publishers rarely release a book only in audio format; they almost always publish a print book and release an audio book version of it soon after. That said, there are some small publishers who mostly sell products online via websites featuring audio book summaries and instant downloads.
Try: The Audiobooks list is a great place to connect with others interested in writing and producing audio books; archives are available, as well as current discussions. The Audio Publishers Association is an excellent resource for those in the business; check out their "Industry Data" page for important information every writer and publisher should know about audio books.
Find audio book companies
The best way to find a major publisher for your audio book is to sell it in print format through a literary agent. Some established publishers also accept submissions directly from authors, but be sure to seek out--and follow explicitly--their submission guidelines.
Try: For a list of some of the top publishers of audiobooks, see Top10Links. WritersMarket.com is the best single source for finding appropriate publishers of any legitimate type; for a fee, you may log onto the frequently updated website and search for audio book publishers.
Consider audio book producing
If you don't want to publish a print version of your book, or you simply want to be more entrepreneurial, consider self-publishing your audio book. There are a number of businesses designed to help you produce professional audio books, but self-publishers might also consider doing all the recording and formatting themselves.
Try: Among audiobook producers, Spoken Books Publishing has established itself as a helpful resource for self-publishers; their services include hiring a narrator and taking care of mastering and cover design. AudioBrite is also takes care of everything from recording to packaging audiobooks.
- Even if you're mostly interested in seeing your books in traditional print format, consider publishing audio books, too. This can greatly increase your readership--and your profits.
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