October 2025 News Roundup
This month highlights Indigenous and African storytelling, a new British awards program, a John Waters collection, a PW interview with Podium’s Victoria Gerken, and another with author Olivia Dade. The LA Times speaks to a host of narrators about competition, casting, commitment and compensation. A Frankfurt white paper identifies the benefits and challenges of using AI tools in audiobook production. Storytel announces new features, the Frankfurt Book Fair promises new opportunities and Audible reports on regional differences in genre preferences. If you’re in Sydney, AUS… check out the spicy romance menu at Wingboy!
General News
The British Audio Awards’ Shortlist: Winners in November
With its awards ceremony set for November 24, the new British Audio Awards ‘Speakies’ program releases a 16-category shortlist. [Source: publishingperspectives.com]
Carol Ofori wins gold at the first ever South African Voice Over Awards
As a natural storyteller and children's book author herself, it was a great honor for Carol to be nominated, but to walk away with the prize was a testament to her talent. [Source: ecr.co.za]
Revolutionising African Storytelling: GreyParrot Audiobook Originals Takes the Spotlight
This pioneering initiative is dedicated to producing high-quality audiobooks that showcase the richness and diversity of African storytelling. [Source: thisdaylive.com]
Audio erotica gets the Hollywood effect as the sex-tech revolution heats up
Apps like Quinn are tapping celebrities with gold-star crush status to rev consumer appetite. [Source: mirror.co.uk]
Welcome to the A-Listen: Why Hollywood’s Hottest Stars Are All Recording Audiobooks
Everyone from Meryl Streep to Andrew Scott and Christopher Briney is adding reading out loud to their resume. [Source: townandcountrymag.com]
London-based charity royal society for blind children’s urgent appeal for kids’ books authors to donate stories to new app
Within hours of the launch, the app reached No. 1 in the book app charts. [Source: londondaily.news]
The business of audiobooks
The audiobook business is booming. But the bounty isn’t being shared by all
Audiobook narrators weigh in on the growth in audiobooks - the talent pool is expanding and casting is becoming a growing topic of debate. [Source: latimes.com]
Frankfurt Book Fair 2025: More Deals, More Camaraderie
This year’s Frankfurt Book Fair expands opportunities for deal making, while offering insight on everything from AI to audiobooks. [Source: publishersweekly.com]
Audible's Market Insights
Audiobook listeners love genre books, but regional tastes differ. [Source: publishersweekly.com]
Sweden’s Storytel Announces Product Features for the Autumn
The 20-year-old Storytel in Stockholm announces a series of improvements this season, both in sound and search. [Source: publishingperspectives.com]
AI News
Frankfurt White Paper: AI Tools’ Potential Benefits, Challenges
A consultant’s white paper, AI and Audio: How Artificial Intelligence is Redefining the Audiobook Industry, identifies AI-related tools being used in for audio production, content creation, marketing, and distribution to identify the benefits and challenges. [Source: publishingperspectives.com]
FEED YOUR EARPODS
Indigenous Peoples’ Day audiobook launch examines Wabanaki access to sea-run fisheries
The audiobook Sea Run examines factors that have limited and continue to block tribal peoples’ access to the fisheries and contributed to the severe decline in the fisheries themselves, and offers recommendations for their revitalization. [Source: mainebiz.biz]
John Waters to Narrate ‘Audaciously Edgy’ Collection of His Screenplays
The director and author will narrate the scripts of several of his beloved films, collected in The John Waters Screenplay Collection. [Source: people.com]
Interviews & Podcasts
Behind the Podium: PW Talks with Victoria Gerken
Since being acquired by Presidio Investors in 2019, the digital-first publisher has exponentially expanded its audio list and taken an interest in print retailers. [Source: publishersweekly.com]
Small Town, Big Love: PW Talks with Olivia Dade
The rom-com writer’s Second Chance Romance reunites a grumpy baker with his lost love, an audiobook narrator specializing in monster erotica. [Source: publishersweekly.com]
Something Outside the Booth
Audible turns up the volume on spicy romance in new work via Emotive, Wavemaker, Eleven + Hello
Taking the heat to the streets of Sydney, Audible and Wingboy created a limited-edition menu inspired by BookTok conversations around romance ‘spice’ levels. [Source: campaignbrief.com]