Get Caught Listening for Booksellers
Attention Booksellers and Librarians. Learn more about the Impact of Audiobooks!

Facts about the Audiobook Industry¹

2007 Audiobook sales data is estimated at $923 million, which is a 6% increase from the 2006 survey the market for audiobooks keeps growing!

When compared to non-audiobook listeners, data shows that listeners are*:

• Slightly younger
• Have a higher household income
• Have had higher level of education
• Often have children and larger households
• Are disposed to read more print books

Among top reasons given for listening to an audiobook for the first time are*:

• Amusement during travel
• Friend recommendation
• Commuter activity
• Exercise/other activity

77% of audiobooks sold are in CD format and 71% of audiobooks listened to are unabridged

63% of audiobooks are bought at physical stores and 31% are purchased via the internet*

Among the most important deciding factors when buying audiobooks are price and availability on CD*

Listeners use, among other factors, the internet, recommendations, and bookstore recommendations to decide what audiobook to select*

69% of sales are fiction and 30% of sales are represented by non-fiction; 94% of audiobook revenue is generated by book-based product

¹ Data is from Audio Publishers Association Sales Survey 2007 unless noted with an asterisk (*); this data is from Audio Publishers Association Consumer Survey 2006.

Audiobooks and Children²

Audiobooks are great tools for children learning English as a second language and special-needs children

Audiobooks are a useful tool in the classroom and a change from teachers reading aloud

Parents are the customer base for children’s audiobooks

Audiobooks are a great form of entertainment and a change from television and video games!

Staff recommendations and guidance on age-appropriateness is useful; the sole use of age labels may not apply to all children

 ²Data from Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC) 2006

Promote Audiobooks³

Create an audiobooks section with face-outs displaying audiobook covers

Create an audiobooks bestseller section

Promote audio versions of titles with print versions—especially at author events!

Include audio titles on ‘Staff Recommendation’ lists

Handsell!

Contact publishers or the APA to enquire about staff listening programs and mailings

Run specials offers or discounts on audiobooks

Offer diverse formats of the same title (unabridged, abridged, etc.) to meet the different needs of your customers!

 ³Compiled from Audio Publishers Association Board document, April 2204