Freedom and The Future of Audiobook Success: Why Direct Listener Relationships Matter More Than Ever
Will Authors Make More Money?
In the first article in this series, we explored ACX’s new royalty model and some of the questions it raises about transparency and creator compensation.
In the second article, we examined why many authors and publishers may want to take this opportunity to review their exclusivity decisions.
Now let’s tackle the question everyone wants answered:
Will authors make more money under the new royalty model?
The truth is that nobody knows yet.
And that’s exactly what concerns me.
The Problem Isn’t Necessarily the Percentage
Most of the conversation around ACX’s announcement has focused on the higher royalty percentages.
That’s understandable. That’s what they want you to focus on.
And a larger percentage sounds better.
But as we discussed in Part 1, percentages only matter when you know what they’re being applied to.
The more important question is:
What is the underlying revenue model?
Historically, creators could generally understand the event that generated a royalty. A listener purchased an audiobook. A credit was redeemed. A transaction occurred.
The new model introduces additional variables tied to membership value and listener engagement.
The result?
Compensation becomes more difficult to predict.
And uncertainty is rarely a creator’s friend.
Who Could Benefit?
It’s possible that some authors will earn more under the new system. Do I consider it likely? I do not.
In particular, creators who have:
Large audiobook catalogs
Popular series
Highly engaged listeners
Strong repeat listening behavior
Titles that perform well within subscription environments
may benefit from the changes.
If listeners spend significant time consuming their content, those authors could potentially see increased earnings.
That’s the promise anyway.
And for some creators, it may prove true. Those who opt will have to wait to find out.
If compensation becomes increasingly connected to listening behavior, we simply don’t yet know how these categories will fare. On top of which, they new royalty rate is only a small increase of what is already a very low rate when compared with the other alternatives now available.
What We Learned from Other Industries
We’ve seen similar transitions before.
Music streaming platforms promised broader access and larger audiences—and they delivered to a degree.
But many musicians discovered that increased listening did not always translate into increased income, because it wasn’t about the percentage as much as it was about the formula.
It’s not that streaming is bad, but creators must understand the rules of the system they’re participating in.
Why Data Matters
One of the most important things authors can do over the next year is track their numbers carefully.
Don’t assume. Measure.
Pay attention to whatever data you have access to, including:
Monthly royalty statements
Revenue trends
Unit sales
Listener engagement metrics
Changes before and after enrollment
Performance across multiple distribution channels
The authors who gather good data will be in the strongest position to make informed decisions.
The Bigger Question
As important as royalties are, I believe there’s a larger issue at stake.
What kind of audiobook business are you building?
One that depends entirely on the policies of a single platform?
Or one that includes multiple pathways and ones that will actually connect with listeners?
When creators have options, platform changes become less threatening.
When creators have only one option, every platform change becomes a potential crisis.
Building Stability in an Uncertain Environment
No one can accurately predict today how every category, genre, and creator will perform under ACX’s new royalty structure.
What we can say is this: the more diversified your audiobook business is, the less vulnerable you are to changes you cannot control.
That’s true whether the platform is Audible, Spotify, Apple, or any future platform that hasn’t been created yet.
The goal isn’t to predict every change, but to build a business that can thrive despite change.
Next week, we’ll explore practical strategies for building direct relationships with listeners and creating a stronger, more resilient audiobook business for the future.
Because books should bring us together in ways that help us all thrive.
