December 2025 News Roundup

The holidays are a busy time that can interrupt our audiobook listening, but use the new Spotify AI recap feature to reload your memory. Spotify has also been busy expanding into new regions and released Wrapped, a compilation of listener data. Audiobooks are credited with helping children learn to read. SOVAS award nominees are announced and Louise Brealey speaks about her efforts in accent work that earned her a spot on the Speakies shortlist. Voices, including Kristen Bell, Brian Cox and others are resurrected to their surprise by Fox News Audio and Judy Garland returns for the ElevenLabs The Wonderful Wizard of Oz project. In an AI-dense month of articles, ElevenLabs is again in the news with star studded licensing deals, and Spines gets into the cloning business. If you’re traveling this holiday season, you might just find an audiobook link under your pillow.

General News

“I learned to read using audiobooks”

A new report has found that while fewer children than ever enjoy reading physical books, nearly half use audiobooks to learn and relax. [Source: stylist.co.uk]

The 12th SOVAS Voice Arts Awards: Nominees List

The Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) announced the performers and creatives being honored at the 12th annual awards, which will take place Jan. 18, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. [Source: backstage.com]

Entrepreneurial Authors And Publishers Embrace The ‘Audio-First’ Trend

With many readers favoring audiobooks over other formats, Podium is among many publishers looking to meet the demand. [Source: forbes.com]

What the Best Audiobook Narrators Can Teach You

Here are some of the best audiobook narrators, and what they can teach you. [Source: mandy.com]

Have You Listened to a Good Book Lately?

APA president Sean McManus responds to The New York Times opinion piece on Whether Audiobooks Count As Reading. [Source: nytimes.com]

The business of audiobooks

Spotify Releases 2025 Audiobook Listening Data

Spotify has announced its year-end audiobook listening data for Premium subscribers, dubbed Wrapped. [Source: publishersweekly.com]

Kristen Bell, Brian Cox and More Surprised to Find Out They Are Starring in Fox News Audio Life of Jesus Podcast

Actors who many years ago lent their voices to an audiobook about the life of Jesus Christ were caught off guard when they found out this week that it has been picked up by Fox News Audio. [Source: variety.com]

Sonesta Announces Partnership With Bedside Reading

The program offers seamless digital access, allowing guests to start reading or listening immediately upon scanning a custom QR code, strategically located on bookmarks and specific locations throughout the hotels. [Source: lodgingmagazine.com]

Regional News

Spotify Adds Audiobooks in Four More Countries

The Nordic markets represent a test case for Spotify's audiobook strategy in regions where digital audio consumption—both music and audiobooks—already exceeds 50% of the market. [Source: publishersweekly.com]

Spotify Tests Audiobooks in Middle Eastern, African Markets

At launch, the audiobook catalog is English-only, though Spotify is exploring expanding into local languages. [Source: publishersweekly.com]

AI News

Stars Including Matthew McConaughey, Michael Caine Partner With ElevenLabs To Create AI-generated Versions Of Their Voices

This development represents a significant shift in how celebrities can monetize their intellectual property. [Source: officechai.com]

Spotify Launches AI Recaps for Audiobooks to Solve Listener Memory Gap

Spotify's new AI-powered Recaps feature creates 'previously on' summaries for audiobooks. [Source: techbuzz.ai]

Spines Adds AI Audiobook Voice Cloning, Translations

Authors can now create full-length audiobooks by providing 33 minutes of audio samples. [Source: publishersweekly.com]

FEED YOUR EARPODS

ElevenLabs Launches AI Narration of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland’s Voice

The recent announcement from ElevenLabs marks a significant advancement in AI voice synthesis technology, particularly in the realm of recreating iconic voices for modern media applications. [Sources: blockchain.news]

Interviews & Podcasts

Speakies shortlistee: Louise Brealey

Louise Brealey reflects on the challenges of narrating emotional books – and explains why she spent the entire fee for one audiobook on accent lessons. [Source: thebookseller.com]

In case you need more Harry Potter: an audiobook with a full-cast recording is out

Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday. [Source: npr.org]

Sounds good: how an audio drama explosion has elevated voice acting

Leaders in the world of voice acting chat to Fergus Morgan about an explosion in opportunities, working across different media and the threat posed by artificial intelligence. [Source: thestage.co.uk]

Something outside the booth

Boston University alum writes audiobook musical starring West End performers

Flaster’s audiobook musical Following Jimmy Valentine, based on O. Henry’s short story A Retrieved Reformation, will be released Feb. 2, 2026, and features the music of six West End performers. [Source: dailyfreepress.com]