Audible: Difference between revisions

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==Consumer-impact summary==

===Audiobook monopoly===

~~As a subsidiary of~~ Amazon, a company ~~that started as an online bookstore that now owns roughly 90~~% ~~or more~~ of the ~~ebook industry~~ {{~~Citation needed~~}}, Audible ~~holds about~~ 60% of ~~audiobooks~~, leading to widespread criticism of monopoly behavior~~{{Citation needed}}~~.

Amazon, the parent company of Audible, together with its collaboration with Apple Books (who otherwise would be their biggest competitors) controls about 80% of the audiobook market<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Vaidehi |date=2024-09-24 |title=Authors Battle Amazon Over Audiobook Monopoly |url=https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/courtside/authors-battle-amazon-over-audiobook-monopoly/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=FindLaw}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Martin A. |date=2025-06-25 |title=ANTITRUST—S.D.N.Y.: Romance author’s claims of monopolization against Amazon Audible proceed |url=https://www.vitallaw.com/news/antitrust-s-d-n-y-romance-author-s-claims-of-monopolization-against-amazon-audible-proceed/ald01b74df89519124657a56b4e6c1589c2c8?refURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecosia.org%2F#. |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=VitalLaw}}</ref>. Audible itself is the world's leading retailer of audiobook purchases with over 60% of domestic and global sales<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=Amazon Audible Audiobook Antitrust |url=https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/amazon-audible-audiobook-antitrust |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Hagens Berman}}</ref>, leading to widespread criticism of monopoly behavior that include professional attorney valorations<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />.

===~~DRM~~===

===Exclusive file format===

Audible ~~has their own~~ file format ~~for audiobooks~~ which is ~~called~~ AAX file ~~format and~~ it ~~contains DRM~~. This creates an ecosystem lock-in, causing users to use third-party software to break the DRM in order to listen to the audiobooks they~~'ve~~ purchased outside of the Audible platform ~~{{Citation needed}}~~.

Audible uses the AAX file format which is developed by them and is DRM-encrypted<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=All about AAX Files |url=https://filext.com/file-extension/AAX |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=FILExt}}</ref>, making it so that only Audible-authorizad players can play it<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |first=Rosie |date=2024-01-10 |title=Recommended AAX Player for Windows/Mac/Android/iOS |url=https://www.dumpmedia.com/audible-converter/aax-player.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=DumpMedia}}</ref>. This creates an ecosystem lock-in<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />, causing users to use third-party software to break the DRM in order to listen to the audiobooks they have purchased outside of the Audible platform<ref name=":4" />, as evidenced by the multitude of converters that show up with a cursory "Audible AAX" search on any web browser.

===Geo-blocking===

Audible ~~engages in geo-blocking,~~ restricting certain content based upon the geographic location of the user.

Audible admits to restricting certain content based upon the geographic location of the user<ref>{{Cite web |title=Update your country/marketplace |url=https://help.audible.com/s/article/update-your-country-marketplace?language=en_US |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=audible}}</ref>, otherwise a practice known as geo-blocking.

===~~Exploitative contracts~~===

===Punishment of non-exclusive deals===

~~Like [[Kindle]] publishing, Audibe requests~~ exclusive ~~publishing~~ to their ~~platform; otherwise~~, ~~rightsholders like authors~~ and ~~publishers are subjected to Audible's 75~~% ~~cut of royalties~~{{~~Citation needed~~}}. ~~Digital media like ebooks and audiobooks tend to be~~ the ~~most lucrative medium for rightsholders as they~~ cost the ~~least~~ to ~~produce, so it is greatly exploitative when a digital platform demands a 75~~% ~~cut~~ to ~~host~~ the ~~content~~.

Audible has been accussed of strong-arming authors into exclusivity deals<ref name=":0" /> by not only imposing higher distribution fees on non-exclusive distribution (75% in comparison to the 60% for exclusive distribution<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />) but also penalizing those who opt for non-exclusivity with practices such as reduced visibility of their titles, lower search rankings, diminished promotional opportunities<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and lower royalties (40% for exclusive deals, 25% for non-exclusive ones<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Scarcella |first=Mike |date=2025-06-21 |title=Amazon must face authors' lawsuit over audiobook distribution, US judge rules |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/amazon-must-face-authors-lawsuit-over-audiobook-distribution-us-judge-rules-2025-06-11/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Reuters}}</ref>). For comparison, the actual cost of distributing the audiobooks is estimated to be around 5% to 10% of the sales price<ref name=":0" />.

==Incidents==

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===Encouraging AI use===

Audible ~~openly encourages~~ AI ~~use~~ with ~~the understanding ding that indie authors who self-publish may rely heavily on~~ AI for ~~content generation~~ and ~~book quantity{{Citation needed~~}}~~. This has led to speculation that Audible is diluting~~ the ~~pool~~ of ~~author royalties~~{{~~Citation needed~~}}.

As of 2025, Audible is planning to integrate AI Narration and Translation solutions<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-13 |title=Audible Expands Catalog with AI Narration and Translation for Publishers |url=https://www.audible.com/about/newsroom/audible-expands-catalog-with-ai-narration-and-translation-for-publishers |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Audible}}</ref> later in the year starting with a roll-out of select publishers, which has been met with criticism by numerous writers, translators and voice-actors<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Lucy |date=2025-05-13 |title=Audible unveils plans to use AI voices to narrate audiobooks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/may/13/audible-unveils-plans-to-use-ai-voices-to-narrate-audiobooks |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>.

==Products==

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==References==

{{reflist}}<ref name=":1" />

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Consumer-impact summary==
 ===Audiobook monopoly===
-As a subsidiary of Amazon, a company that started as an online bookstore that now owns roughly 90% or more of the ebook industry {{Citation needed}}, Audible holds about 60% of audiobooks, leading to widespread criticism of monopoly behavior{{Citation needed}}.
+Amazon, the parent company of Audible, together with its collaboration with Apple Books (who otherwise would be their biggest competitors) controls about 80% of the audiobook market<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Vaidehi |date=2024-09-24 |title=Authors Battle Amazon Over Audiobook Monopoly |url=https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/courtside/authors-battle-amazon-over-audiobook-monopoly/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=FindLaw}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Martin A. |date=2025-06-25 |title=ANTITRUST—S.D.N.Y.: Romance author’s claims of monopolization against Amazon Audible proceed |url=https://www.vitallaw.com/news/antitrust-s-d-n-y-romance-author-s-claims-of-monopolization-against-amazon-audible-proceed/ald01b74df89519124657a56b4e6c1589c2c8?refURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecosia.org%2F#. |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=VitalLaw}}</ref>. Audible itself is the world's leading retailer of audiobook purchases with over 60% of domestic and global sales<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=Amazon Audible Audiobook Antitrust |url=https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/amazon-audible-audiobook-antitrust |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Hagens Berman}}</ref>, leading to widespread criticism of monopoly behavior that include professional attorney valorations<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />.
-===DRM===
+===Exclusive file format===
-Audible has their own file format for audiobooks which is called AAX file format and it contains DRM. This creates an ecosystem lock-in, causing users to use third-party software to break the DRM in order to listen to the audiobooks they've purchased outside of the Audible platform {{Citation needed}}.
+Audible uses the AAX file format which is developed by them and is DRM-encrypted<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=All about AAX Files |url=https://filext.com/file-extension/AAX |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=FILExt}}</ref>, making it so that only Audible-authorizad players can play it<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |first=Rosie |date=2024-01-10 |title=Recommended AAX Player for Windows/Mac/Android/iOS |url=https://www.dumpmedia.com/audible-converter/aax-player.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=DumpMedia}}</ref>. This creates an ecosystem lock-in<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />, causing users to use third-party software to break the DRM in order to listen to the audiobooks they have purchased outside of the Audible platform<ref name=":4" />, as evidenced by the multitude of converters that show up with a cursory "Audible AAX" search on any web browser.
 ===Geo-blocking===
-Audible engages in geo-blocking, restricting certain content based upon the geographic location of the user.
+Audible admits to restricting certain content based upon the geographic location of the user<ref>{{Cite web |title=Update your country/marketplace |url=https://help.audible.com/s/article/update-your-country-marketplace?language=en_US |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=audible}}</ref>, otherwise a practice known as geo-blocking.
-===Exploitative contracts===
+===Punishment of non-exclusive deals===
-Like [[Kindle]] publishing, Audibe requests exclusive publishing to their platform; otherwise, rightsholders like authors and publishers are subjected to Audible's 75% cut of royalties{{Citation needed}}. Digital media like ebooks and audiobooks tend to be the most lucrative medium for rightsholders as they cost the least to produce, so it is greatly exploitative when a digital platform demands a 75% cut to host the content.
+Audible has been accussed of strong-arming authors into exclusivity deals<ref name=":0" /> by not only imposing higher distribution fees on non-exclusive distribution (75% in comparison to the 60% for exclusive distribution<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />) but also penalizing those who opt for non-exclusivity with practices such as reduced visibility of their titles, lower search rankings, diminished promotional opportunities<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and lower royalties (40% for exclusive deals, 25% for non-exclusive ones<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Scarcella |first=Mike |date=2025-06-21 |title=Amazon must face authors' lawsuit over audiobook distribution, US judge rules |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/amazon-must-face-authors-lawsuit-over-audiobook-distribution-us-judge-rules-2025-06-11/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Reuters}}</ref>). For comparison, the actual cost of distributing the audiobooks is estimated to be around 5% to 10% of the sales price<ref name=":0" />.
 ==Incidents==
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ===Encouraging AI use===
-Audible openly encourages AI use with the understanding ding that indie authors who self-publish may rely heavily on AI for content generation and book quantity{{Citation needed}}. This has led to speculation that Audible is diluting the pool of author royalties{{Citation needed}}.
+As of 2025, Audible is planning to integrate AI Narration and Translation solutions<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-13 |title=Audible Expands Catalog with AI Narration and Translation for Publishers |url=https://www.audible.com/about/newsroom/audible-expands-catalog-with-ai-narration-and-translation-for-publishers |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Audible}}</ref> later in the year starting with a roll-out of select publishers, which has been met with criticism by numerous writers, translators and voice-actors<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Lucy |date=2025-05-13 |title=Audible unveils plans to use AI voices to narrate audiobooks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/may/13/audible-unveils-plans-to-use-ai-voices-to-narrate-audiobooks |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>.
 ==Products==
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{reflist}}<ref name=":1" />
 [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]