Audible’s New Royalty Model: More Opportunities for Authors and Publishers

As Audible continues to grow our catalog and serve millions of listeners globally, we are constantly thinking about how we can innovate to meet the evolving needs of audiobook lovers, authors, and publishers.

We are now rolling out a new royalty model that prioritizes equity, flexibility, and insight for creators—one that evolved out of ongoing conversations with authors and publishers, and that advances our creator-centric ethos. Under this model, creators are able to monetize more types of content, and listeners will get to discover more innovative storytelling.

• Titles in all Audible’s membership offerings can now earn royalties: Audible’s new royalty model means new opportunities for small publishers and independent authors to earn across all membership listening activity. Now more titles—including those currently in Audible Plus, Audible’s all-you-can-listen offering—can generate royalty payments. Depending on the audiences that publishers and creators want to reach, there are new ways to monetize and promote content, which means more flexibility to reach listeners where they are.
• The new model provides additional insights: Monthly statements and royalty payments will empower timely decision-making. Providers who sign up for the new model will also benefit from additional insights about the impact of listening on their earnings and other data points on how an Audible member’s payments tie directly to the Audible content they engage with.

How is the new royalty model calculated? Audible takes a member’s plan value (Plus or Premium Plus) and adds the value of any additional credits used, then divides that value among the titles the member listened to over the course of the month. That figure, multiplied by the contractual royalty rate, comprises a creator’s royalty payment.

“Audible is a home for creators, and we are focused on both existing and emerging voices—working hand in hand with them to make sure their content is reaching the right audiences,” said Rachel Ghiazza, Chief Content Officer, at the London Book Fair in March.

To enroll in the new royalty model, audiobook publishers can reach out to their Audible contacts or email uspublisherpartnerships@audible.com for more information. Audible will be announcing next steps for ACX authors in the coming months.