Audible has launched a new series of Harry Potter audiobooks featuring full cast performances, cutting-edge spatial audio, and a comprehensive production that aims to surpass previous listening hours and redefine the audiobook experience, with new installments released monthly.
Pottermore Publishing and Audible are releasing full-cast Harry Potter audiobooks with an expanded cast including Bill Nighy, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísu, among others, starting with 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' on November 4, 2023, and continuing through the series until May 2026.
Cyber Monday 2024 offers significant discounts on subscription services, including streaming platforms like Hulu and Disney+, and educational services like MasterClass. Notable deals include Hulu for 99 cents per month and MasterClass subscriptions at 50% off. Audible is also offering a special deal of $0.99 per month for three months plus a $20 credit. These deals provide affordable options for entertainment and learning during the winter months.
Amazon Music Unlimited now offers subscribers in the US, Canada, and the UK one free audiobook per month from Audible's extensive library. This new perk aligns with a similar offer from Spotify for its Premium users. Subscribers can listen to one audiobook per month, and if they don't finish it, they can continue the next month or choose a new title. The service is priced at $9.99 per month for Prime members and $10.99 for non-Prime users, slightly cheaper than Spotify's Premium plan. Users can also opt for an Audible subscription for more extensive audiobook access.
Amazon is enhancing its Amazon Music Unlimited service by offering subscribers one free audiobook per month from Audible's catalog, aiming to compete with Spotify's growing presence in the audiobook market. This offer is available to top plan subscribers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, allowing them to choose any audiobook and continue listening through subsequent billing cycles. This move is part of Amazon's broader strategy to integrate and recommend books across its platforms.
Spotify introduces a new audiobook subscription tier for $9.99 a month, offering 15 free listening hours but with ads for music and podcasts, prompting criticism for providing minimal benefits compared to the $10.99 Premium plan. The new tier also lacks additional perks for readers and limits listening hours, with an option to purchase 10 extra hours for $12.99. This move has sparked anger in the publishing industry over compensation, as Spotify's payment model for audiobooks differs from traditional methods, potentially resulting in authors being paid less as readers shift from purchasing books to streaming.
Amazon-owned Audible is laying off 5% of its staff due to the "increasingly challenging landscape," following a trend of ongoing layoffs across the tech industry. Amazon has been aggressively cutting back its workforce, with layoffs across multiple departments including AWS, Twitch, and advertising. This comes as Twitch, MGM Studios, and Prime Video, all acquired by Amazon, have also let go of hundreds of employees. The company is making cuts to reduce or discontinue investments in certain areas while increasing focus on content and product initiatives.
Audible, the Amazon-owned audiobook and podcast division, has laid off over 100 employees, about 5% of its workforce, as part of a move to operate more efficiently in the face of a challenging landscape. The layoffs do not affect Audible’s content teams, and CEO Bob Carrigan emphasized that the business had a strong year but needed to position itself for continued success in the future. The cuts come as other Amazon groups are also reducing their workforce.
Amazon's Audible division is cutting about 5% of its staff to position the unit for continued success, following broader layoffs at its parent company. The decision, announced by Audible CEO Bob Carrigan, aims to make the business leaner and more efficient in the face of a challenging landscape. The cuts come after a strong year in 2023 and are part of Amazon's broader layoffs affecting almost every area of the company. The impacted employees have already received meeting invites for conversations with HR business partners and team leaders, and the company is committed to supporting them as they look for their next opportunity.
Amazon is laying off 5% of the workforce at its Audible division, following recent job cuts in its streaming and studio business. The decision, aimed at strengthening the business for the long term, comes amidst a trend of tech companies extending massive job cuts into 2024. This move by Amazon follows its acquisition of Audible for about $300 million in 2008, and it reflects broader industry trends as big tech companies like Google-parent Alphabet also announce layoffs across multiple teams.
Amazon's Audible division is laying off 5% of its workforce as part of the company's broader cost-cutting measures, following recent layoffs in other parts of Amazon. The decision to reduce roles within the organization was communicated in an internal email from Audible's CEO, Bob Carrigan, citing the need to position the company for continued success in the face of a challenging landscape. The layoffs come as Amazon has been implementing significant cost-cutting measures since late 2022, with the company having laid off about 27,000 employees since then.
Amazon is offering a limited-time deal on Audible subscriptions, with 60% off the first four months, costing only $6 per month. The offer is available until December 31. In addition, there are various deals on Amazon devices that are compatible with Audible, including the Echo Dot, Kindle Scribe, and Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet. These devices are on sale, making them perfect last-minute holiday gifts for book lovers.
Meghan Markle is reportedly close to securing a lucrative deal with Audible, following the disappointment of her Spotify partnership. The potential deal is said to be even bigger than the millions Spotify paid out, and Markle is excited to join the likes of Michelle and Barack Obama, who signed a multi-year contract with Audible last year. Markle sees this deal as a make-or-break opportunity for her Hollywood aspirations. The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry have faced criticism for their high-profile deals with Netflix and Spotify, which have yet to produce significant content. Markle's confidence in the Audible deal comes after TV presenter Nick Ede, a former friend, suggested that the couple underestimated the effort required to succeed in Hollywood.
Amazon Prime members can take advantage of an early Prime Day deal by getting 3 free months of Audible Premium Plus membership. This offer is only available to new subscribers and can be accessed by logging into your Amazon Prime account. Audible Premium Plus provides access to a vast library of 500,000 audiobooks, including popular titles like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. In addition to the expanded library, members can choose one audiobook to keep each month and enjoy 30% off additional purchases. This deal is a great opportunity for audiobook enthusiasts and is part of a series of pre-Prime Day discounts available to Amazon Prime members.