Some Audiobooks Are Outselling Hardcovers (msn.com)
(Tuesday December 30, 2025 @11:41AM (msmash)
from the why-read-when-you-can-listen dept.)
- Reference: 0180485443
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/12/30/0754259/some-audiobooks-are-outselling-hardcovers
- Source link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/listen-to-this-some-audiobooks-are-outselling-hardcovers/ar-AA1TdTlM
In a year when print book sales have slipped 1% to 679 million copies through early December, according to Circana BookScan, audiobooks continue to carve out territory that once belonged exclusively to hardcovers, and in several notable cases this year, the audio versions have [1]outright outsold their physical counterparts .
S.A. Cosby's southern crime novel "King of Ashes" moved more copies as an audiobook than as a hardcover, according to publisher Macmillan Audio. The same is true for celebrity memoirs from Jeremy Renner, Alyson Stoner, and Brooke Shields -- all narrated by the authors themselves. Karin Slaughter's thriller "We Are All Guilty Here" and comedian Nate Bargatze's "Big Dumb Eyes" also saw their audio editions outpace hardcover sales.
Digital audiobook revenue jumped nearly 24% in 2024 to $1.1 billion, per the Association of American Publishers, though growth has cooled to 1% through October this year, bringing in nearly $888 million. The format's strength has professional narrators watching AI developments nervously. Emily Lawrence, who has narrated more than 600 audiobooks, said there's "a lot of water cooler talk about people who haven't had work in months." Hachette Audio publisher Ana Maria Allessi said voice-cloning technology is becoming more sophisticated and could change how authors approach narration.
[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/listen-to-this-some-audiobooks-are-outselling-hardcovers/ar-AA1TdTlM
S.A. Cosby's southern crime novel "King of Ashes" moved more copies as an audiobook than as a hardcover, according to publisher Macmillan Audio. The same is true for celebrity memoirs from Jeremy Renner, Alyson Stoner, and Brooke Shields -- all narrated by the authors themselves. Karin Slaughter's thriller "We Are All Guilty Here" and comedian Nate Bargatze's "Big Dumb Eyes" also saw their audio editions outpace hardcover sales.
Digital audiobook revenue jumped nearly 24% in 2024 to $1.1 billion, per the Association of American Publishers, though growth has cooled to 1% through October this year, bringing in nearly $888 million. The format's strength has professional narrators watching AI developments nervously. Emily Lawrence, who has narrated more than 600 audiobooks, said there's "a lot of water cooler talk about people who haven't had work in months." Hachette Audio publisher Ana Maria Allessi said voice-cloning technology is becoming more sophisticated and could change how authors approach narration.
[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/listen-to-this-some-audiobooks-are-outselling-hardcovers/ar-AA1TdTlM
No Surprise (Score:2)
by frdmfghtr ( 603968 )
Given our rush-here, rush-there lifestyles of late, who has time to sit and read a book?
Back to office (Score:1)
by tatroc ( 6301818 )
Could be back to office commutes?
Not new for me (Score:1)
by Ryanrule ( 1657199 )
I used LOTR ebooks for my long travels since forever.
Is that good? It's complicated. (Score:2)
Look, I have no beef with audio books. My gut tells me that a listener does not immerse in the material like a reader does, primarily because they're consuming while, driving, exercising, whatever... and when an interruption occurs, the stream might continue while the attention diverts, But at least audio books leave imagination some space. And imagination is mental muscle. It needs exercise, or it atrophies.
But what I really think is awful are the modern Cole's Notes services like Blinkist. These are lossy
Re: (Score:3)
I have tried a variation of this - listening to a show or a clip vs reading the transcript. Turns out that I read much faster than a narrator talks, unless I slow down at a place to absorb the implication of what s/he said. Given that difference, I do prefer reading to listening
However, on the question of hardcover/softcover books, I have completely switched to ebooks. Convenience here is that it's all in my tablet, and doesn't weigh an ounce more, particularly if I am travelling. It also turns out th
Re: (Score:2)
I think there is some merit to your generalization. I am guilty, not an avid reader but have listened to quite a few audio books, I even bought a few shelf trophies. There was a point I had a 2.5hr commute which I loathed until finding a few amazing audio books. Yes I was driving but my imagination existing in the world created by the author. I can't say I would have read(listened) to as many books without this option. Shoot I pick up my kids and they literally are like what did we miss.
I admit I do not lik
Re: (Score:2)
Cliff Notes have existed for decades to service folks that can't be bothered yet were assigned real books as reading assignments in school. There's always shortcuts for people, and some people will spend their entire lives looking for the shortcut on everything, including reading. Which is sad to me, because reading is one of life's simplest and greatest pleasures, but I long ago realized that no matter how much it irks you, when it comes to things like this no amount of vitriol will change people's minds w
Re: (Score:2)
Actually, I regret catching Cliff's Notes in the crossfire. They had a specific purpose - to help students pass the tests. And I respect that. That goal is nicely contained, and honest,
Blinkist, on the other hand, is targeted directly at posers.
Re: (Score:2)
Well people also have a lack of time,so while they might not be as emersed as when they sit and tead, audiobooks might give them a chance to enjoy books they wouldn't have taken the time to read whilr beeing stuck in traffic or exercising.
Re: (Score:2)
Agreed. That's why I think they belong solidly in the second spot. And that's not to condemn audiobooks to some sort of distant inferior position. I think they have a great deal of merit, and your succinct point is well taken.