November 2020 News Roundup

PUBLIC RESTROOMS NOW PLAYING AUDIOBOOKS

A new initiative in Singapore cleverly called "Looterture Campaign" is promoting the consumption of literature by bringing audiobooks to public restrooms and public stalls. [Source: CleanLink]

39TH SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR ADDRESSES THE IMPACT OF BOOK PIRACY AND THE SURGING POPULARITY OF AUDIOBOOKS.

Joining the event virtually from Nigeria, Lawrence Aladesuyi, Country Manager of Cambridge University Press, described how pirated works are imported into his country from many Far East and Asian countries. "There is no popular book that is not pirated in Nigeria. [Source: Menafn]

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD ANNOUNCED THEIR 5 UNDER 35 HONOREES, AND ALL FIVE WRITERS WERE WOMEN OF COLOR.

These authors represent a huge part of the future of American literature. {Source: BookRiot]

ARE PODCASTS AND AUDIOBOOKS COMING TO NETFLIX?

Reports are emerging that Netflix is now testing a new audio-only mode. [Source: Exclaim]

NIELSEN BOOK RELEASES AUSTRALIAN AUDIOBOOK CONSUMER RESEARCH

What’s reported to be the first study of audiobook consumer behavior in Australia points to a new, young audience for the format, many of whom have only tried listening to a book in the last year. [Source: Publishing Perspectives]

PANDEMIC DRIVES EBOOK AND AUDIOBOOK SALES BY UK PUBLISHERS TO ALL-TIME HIGH

Sales of consumer audiobooks which have ridden a wave of increasing popularity over the years, surged 42% in the first half – easily on track to beat last year’s record. [Source: The Guardian]