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Audiobook Publishing in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Alex Petridis Alex Petridis New York, United States Last Updated: June 2025 NAICS OD4396

Revenue

$2.2bn

2025

$2.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

5,213

Businesses

176

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Audiobook Publishing in the US industry analysis

The audiobook publishing industry has grown enormously as smartphone use has skyrocketed. Shifting media consumption habits among consumers have primarily been in favor of audiobooks. With the proliferation of smartphones, streaming platforms like Audible and Spotify and the rise of on-demand content, audiobooks have become more accessible than ever.  Overall, increased accessibility and shifting consumer preferences have resulted in outsized growth. Audiobooks have become a staple of passive media consumption, perfect for long drives or study sessions. The industry has expanded exponentially across the board, with revenue expected to climb at a CAGR of 2.1% to $2.2 billion through the end of 2025, including an expected 3.6% growth in 2025 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Increases in per capita disposable income and internet use have created perfect conditions for expanding the audiobook publishing industry. Industry enterprises have capitalized on increased publishing activity to expand their catalogs and expand into more markets.
  • Publishers are stepping up their game with audio-first exclusives, high-quality productions and bundles to meet growing listener expectations. From celebrity narrators to podcast-inspired dramas, the arms race for premium storytelling is raising the bar and the budget.
  • Audiobook publishers leverage proximity to key downstream markets in metropolitan hubs like California and New York. These areas have burgeoning media sectors, which provide the requisite talent pool and greater access to potential authors.
  • Audiobook publishers compete heavily on price. To expand their customer bases, they must remain price competitive with other publishers in this industry.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.2bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Improving consumer conditions and technologies have compensated for intensified competition

  • New technologies are making audiobooks increasingly convenient and easy to consume, spurring industry growth. The prevalence of mobile devices with broadband capabilities has granted consumers the direct ability to access audiobooks anywhere and has significantly boosted demand for digital audiobooks.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Audiobook Publishing in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Industry enterprise navigate shifting economic conditions

  • The US audiobook market is not just growing; it’s booming. The APA’s annual survey for 2023 found over 74,000 new audiobooks published in the US last year, up from just 7,000 a decade ago. Rising consumer engagement is tied to shifting habits. Busy Americans are using audiobooks not just for leisure but also for learning, self-improvement and multitasking during commutes or chores.

Biggest companies in the Audiobook Publishing in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Profit ($m)
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025
Audible Inc.
554.0
75.0
13.5
Penguin Random House Audio
388.5
59.7
15.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Audiobook Publishing in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Digital audiobooks - fiction, Digital audiobooks - nonfiction and CD audiobooks. Digital audiobooks - fiction is the largest segment of the Audiobook Publishing in the US.

Trends and Insights

Digital downloads undergo a demand surge

  • Collectively, digital downloads dominate the Audiobook Publishing industry. This segment is representative of consumers downloading or streaming audiobooks through relevant marketplaces or platforms. Digital downloads account for over 90% of total revenue, with more than half of that attributed to fiction titles.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Establishments in this industry primarily edit and design audiobooks. Additionally, industry operators engage in marketing activities and handle distribution agreements with wholesalers, brick-and-mortar and online stores. This industry excludes work completed by authors or disc manufacturers.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States include Editing, designing and marketing CD audiobooks, Editing, designing and marketing digital audiobooks (fiction), Editing, designing and marketing digital audiobooks (nonfiction) and Editing, designing and marketing other audiobooks.

Companies

Companies covered in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States include Audible Inc. and Penguin Random House Audio.

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States include e-book, mp3 cd and smartphone.

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 511130 - Audiobook Publishing in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Increases in per capita disposable income and internet use have created perfect conditions for expanding the audiobook publishing industry. Industry enterprises have capitali...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Publishers are stepping up their game with audio-first exclusives, high-quality productions and bundles to meet growing listener expectations. From celebrity narrators to pod...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Audiobook publishers leverage proximity to key downstream markets in metropolitan hubs like California and New York. These areas have burgeoning media sectors, which provide ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Audiobook publishers compete heavily on price. To expand their customer bases, they must remain price competitive with other publishers in this industry.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Audible now operates a theater division that has commissioned new work from 55 playwrights and presented 25 performances at New York's Minetta Lane Theater. Audible continues...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Audible Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Penguin Random House Audio's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Audible Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Penguin Random House Audio, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Copyright protection is the bedrock of audiobook publishing. Publishers have to secure audio rights and follow strict DMCA rules to avoid legal headaches, especially as digit...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profitability is shrinking as digital platforms and subscription models overtake traditional sales. Publishers now earn less per title, since platforms like Audible Plus and ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
  • Income Statement (2018-2023)
  • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States in 2025?

The market size of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is $2.2bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 176 businesses in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States are Audible Inc. and Penguin Random House Audio

What does the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States include?

Editing, designing and marketing CD audiobooks and Editing, designing and marketing digital audiobooks (fiction) are part of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The company holding the most market share in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is Audible Inc..

How competitive is the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States.

Related Industries

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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