The start of audiobook publishing came with the recording in the first half of the 20th century of several great authors reading their own work aloud. Gradually, books became available on cassettes. In 1982 audio CDs were introduced. Consumer resistance to trying audio devices limited industry growth. Price also inhibited listenership, though the introduction of new formats lowered the cost drastically. By 2009, 28 percent of survey responders reported listening to an audiobook within the past year.
Audio CDs are the most popular format for audiobooks. In 2008, CDs accounted for 72 percent of the market. Digital downloads increased to 21 percent. Pre-loaded devices and MP3 CDs made up a small but growing segment of the market. Only cassette sales were stagnant.
The audiobook industry is geared toward a listener who wants to "read" while doing something else. The most common venue for listening is in the car. Books are also listened to during exercising, walking the dog, gardening, relaxing or at work, especially by those who are engaged in repetitive tasks. The largest share of audiobooks is geared toward an adult audience.
The Audio Publishers Association numbers 30 members. Some have names that are familiar to those in trade publishing, such as Penguin Group and Random House Audio. Audible is owned by Amazon.com. iScroll works with iPhones. But many audiobook publishers are small, specialized companies. For example, AudioBookCase showcases unabridged recordings of classics.
An audio ook is generally released on the same date as the trade book version. The decision as to whether a novel will come out in audio format is based on negotiations between agent and publishing houses about how well the book will fit the needs of the audiobook consumer. Most audiobooks are based on novels. Self-published authors negotiate directly with the audiobook publisher.
An important consideration in audiobook publishing is whether or not the book should be abridged. Publishers may hire a professional abridger to edit the story, trying to keep its essence while shortening it. Usually this is done with the author's consent. However, 85 percent of audiobooks are unabridged.
Narrators are an essential element of audiobook publishing. These are the people who read the story out loud, in some cases dramatizing the character's voices. Authors are more likely to be hired as readers for nonfiction books. Fiction tends to require professionals with dramatic training. Sometimes, an entire cast of actors is hired to dramatize the book, as with Jodi Picoult's novel "Change of Heart."