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Getting Started with Audiobooks

In the last 10 years, the UK audiobook market has tripled in size, growing to become an important format in its own right. Audiobooks were worth £268 million in revenue to UK publishing in 2024, the highest figure ever, and a 31% increase on the previous year. They represent 1 in 10 books bought in the UK, and the market is expanding, with both new and existing customers embracing the format.

This one-day course covers all aspects of producing an audiobook. It is designed for the 80% of UK publishers who have yet to publish in audiobook format, and those who may have published one or two audiobooks and want to expand and increase their output, at scale. If you are thinking about producing audiobooks, but don’t know where to start, then this is the course for you.

Who is it for?

Anyone who is considering producing an audiobook and wants to find out how to do it, and what they need to know. Those who have published one or more audiobooks but want to grow their output and want to learn how. This includes: 

  • business development executives
  • commissioning editors
  • editorial assistants, assistant editors, editors 
  • freelancers
  • production staff
  • publishers
  • publishing directors.

Programme

Day 1

Introduction to audio markets and trends

  • UK and key global market landscape
  • Listening behaviours and demographic insights

Distribution channels and pricing

  • Retail landscape: the major players 
  • Trade distribution models: subscription and à la carte
  • Library distribution models 

Audio rights and acquisition

  • How to evaluate audio potential at acquisition
  • What are audio rights?
  • What to pay attention to in contracts
  • Sublicensing 
  • How to make the most of your audio rights

What will you achieve?

On completing this course you’ll be able to: 

  • understand what you need to set up and start an audiobooks list
  • create a plan to guide you step by step in producing an audiobook
  • consider which titles are suitable and how you can exploit audio rights
  • be able to advocate for producing audiobooks within your organisation
  • know the financial aspects and implications of producing audiobooks




Day 2

Production and distribution options and economics 

  • End-to-end production and distribution services 
  • Doing it yourself and what to consider

Cost structures and production planning

  • Cost components
  • Scheduling and timing
  • Mitigating risks
  • AI narration

Casting processes and working with narrators

Audiobook production workflow 

  • Pre-production planning
  • Production process
  • Post-production and quality control, including AI tools

Distribution

  • Content and metadata files best practice
  • Global distribution partners and aggregators

Next session

7 & 10 July 2026

Price

£375 + VAT

A number of discounts are available

Course format

  • Virtual classroom
  • 9.00am to 12.30pm 
  • 4 x 1½-hour sessions, split across 2 half days comprising 2 sessions 3 days apart

Date information for future sessions

July 2026

  • Dates: 7 & 10 July 2026
  • Times: Each session will run from 9.00am to 12.30pm

    What you will need

    To join the course, you will need access to a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone. You will need to activate a free Zoom account to join the course. This takes 2 minutes and does not require any payment. It is purely for administrative purposes.

    Enrol on this course

    Enrol on this course