Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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US audiobook sales up 25% in 2018

In the US, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) has reported audiobook revenue in 2018 grew by 24.5% to total US$940 million (A$1.34b), reports Publishing Perspectives.

Unit sales were up 27.3%, with 2018 marking the seventh straight year of double-digit revenue growth. The survey also found that half of all Americans over the age of 12 have listened to an audiobook (up from 44%); the number of titles published in 2018 totalled 44,685 (up 5.8%); most (55%) of all audiobook listeners are under the age of 45; and the most popular genres sold in 2018 were general fiction, mysteries and thrillers/suspense, and science-fiction/fantasy. Over 91% of audiobook sales were in digital format.

The APA’s annual report on audiobook sales is based on figures supplied by 20 audiobook publishers, including the Big Five houses.

To read more, see the APA website.

 

Category: International news