If you have more questions that are not answered here, do let us know. We’re here to help!
Whoever holds the rights to the book retains those rights. A contract with Pro Audio Voices does not impact the rights. We do not receive any rights by producing the audiobook edition of your book.
No. Contracting with Pro Audio Voices to create an audiobook does not impact the rights held by the book’s Copyright Holder. The Client (whoever holds the rights and enters into the contract with PAV) designates who will hold the Production Copyright. Typically, the author retains the audiobook rights, unless they have sold or released them to their publisher.
If you’ve never been through the audiobook creation process, Pro Audio Services (“PAV”) makes it easy and accessible. Learn more about the production process HERE.
Yes. There are a few different approaches to this. If you think you may have just a few customers wanting your audio book as a CD set, then you may be best off suggesting they download and burn it to a CD. If you just want a few sets, is to burn CD sets yourself and get CD binders, sleeves, and print labels and inserts. We don’t know how much longer CD technology will be around, but some folks are still using it. They are surprisingly holding their own in the market share of audiobook sales. Also, it can be a lovely gift for folks who have no interest in newer technology or just want to listen to books in their cars or CD players. *Be sure to make sure when you are selling any editions of your books (print or audio or any other products), that you are complying with the law regarding sales tax.
If you also want to distribute through ACX with downloadable books through Audible and iTunes, then you’ll need to select the non-exclusive contract option. You can then sell CD sets through your own website or through Amazon, eBay, local stores, door-to-door and anywhere else you can find buyers. It is ironic, since ACX and Amazon are just part of the same company, that selling through Amazon is considered non-exclusive, but that’s the way it goes. We can’t control that. Be sure to check the other FAQ about manufacturing CD sets.
Yes. Especially the main characters and any characters that have an accent or dialect and what that is. This is very valuable to the narrator to convey the characters most accurately to your vision. It will help you get the end result you are hoping for. You can describe your characters in whatever way is easiest for you. For example, you could say a character reminds you of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, when played by Matthew Macfadyen; or that this character has a mousy voice. Anything helps. You do not need to list every walk-on character who appears briefly, although if you have strong ideas about any characters, it’s helpful to let your narrator know at the beginning.
AMPlify Audiobooks is hands down your best option for distribution! But it doesn’t need to be the only solution. For the widest distribution, we recommend Authors Republic as a digital distributor. Although the market share of audiobook sales and distribution is dominated by ACX (division of Amazon – surprise! not), that does NOT mean it is the best distribution option. In fact, choosing ACX limits your distribution to Audible and iTunes. They also generally pay the lowest royalties.
AMPlify Audiobooks, on the other hand, is a direst sale platform that delivers the highest royalties on any platform, and it also provides you with WAY more control (and sales info details!) than you can get anywhere else.
If you are wanting to publish audiobook only (not already as an ebook or print) or audiobook first, AMPlify is pretty much your only option.
Another retailer of audiobooks for specifically educational materials that may be right for your material: Scholastic’s Learn Out Loud.
While marketing audiobooks has many similarities to book marketing in general, having an audiobook opens up new opportunities.
We are committed to helping authors and publishers succeed with their audiobooks and have been rolling out marketing options as our clients have identified where they most need help.
See our many marketing options HERE.
Becky Parker Geist serves as President of Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (www.BAIPA.org) and understands the challenges facing independently published authors and small publishers. Here are just a few of the top options available for audiobooks in particular:
- Use Audiograms on your social media. Videos tend to better engage and audiograms are a way to share clips of your audiobook.
- If you haven’t yet produced your audiobook, there are several great opportunities that are typically discovered in Pre-Production.
- Use clips from your audio to build a video trailer. If you need help with that, we at Pro Audio Voices partner with Riverview Studios to create compelling trailers. Then when you have a video trailer, pull short clips from that to share on social media.
- Use the AMPlify Audiobooks platform to run promotions.
- Link a post and button on your website to your AMPlify shop.
Depending on your goals and your audience, there are many differing ways to approach your marketing and places to be. If you’re looking for some support, check out the Audiobook Marketing options available at Pro Audio Voices.
Pro Audio Voices offers payment plans with a minimum payment of $500/month over a maximum of nine months. Keep in mind that an extended payment plan can delay the release of your audiobook if your account has not been paid in full when your audiobook is complete and ready.
Each contract is negotiable, so there is no fixed answer to this. Book a call to discuss your project!
