I recently got involved in some audiobook work.
Audiobooks have been with us for quite some time now, but they’re one of those content mediums that have slowly been coming into thier own as technology shifts the way we consume our entertainment.
As of 2009, the Audio Publisher’s Association (APA) estimated that audiobooks are a $1 billion industry, with just over 70% of those sales in CD format. But as more and more distributors are offering digital downloads as a primary format for purchase, those trends are well on their way to shifting, and there’s little doubt that downloads are the way of the future.
The first audiobook I listened to was actually one that I had already read; The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolken, narrated by Rob Inglis. Inglis’ work was cut out for him in this book, with all the spectacular characters he had to perform. He even sang the songs that Tolken included in the story. Suffice to say, I was officially hooked on audiobooks.
Incidentally, I’ve also updated my Projects page to include some of my own voiceover/narration work. Feel free to take a listen!
Most of my “full book reading” is done via audiobook in the car. In my commute alone I can polish off a decent sized book each week. I read non-fiction primarily, whatever interests me at the time. And the best part is that Libraries are often stocked well in this regard – so its free, and I like to think of my late fees as a donation to keep the system going in my community. Also, if I am having a hard time getting through a book I own, I sometimes download the A-book from a trusted source on the net.
June 20th, 2010 at 11:08 pmJT
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