Audiobook platform Libro.fm to launch in UK

Libro.fm (www.libro.fm), a digital audiobook platform which partners with independent bookshops in the US and Canada, is launching in the UK, Australia and New Zealand in July 2023.

According to the platform, booksellers in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand are given the opportunity to join its Audiobook Listening Copy (ALC) programme, which will provide free upcoming and new audiobooks, in advance of the company’s international launch. Bookshop owners and managers are also able to pre-register their bookshop for the July 2023 launch. There is no cost to bookshops to become a partner. 

Mark Pearson, Libro.fm co-founder and c.e.o., said: “We’re excited for booksellers to start using Libro.fm and gain confidence in the platform ahead of launch, and know they’ll look forward to sharing it with their customers."

Madison Mullen, product manager at Libro.fm, added: “In 2022, 29% of new visitors to our website were from outside the US, so we know that there are readers all around the world who are eager to support their local bookshops with their audiobook purchases. We have six years of experience working with 12,000+ booksellers across 2,100 bookshops in the US and Canada, and our highest priority is making sure that Libro.fm is an audiobook service that booksellers around the world will be proud to promote to their customers.” 

Libro.fm is an employee-owned social purpose corporation founded in 2014, with a digital audiobook platform that works with 2,100+ bookshops to offer audiobooks and monthly audiobook memberships. The platform aims to enable bookshops to compete against Amazon’s Audible subscription model, offering 300,000 titles that can be redeemed through credits. Currently, more than 80% of Libro.fm partner bookshop revenue comes from monthly memberships, though customers can also purchase individual audiobooks.

Dan Slevin, c.e.o. of Booksellers NZ, said: “Globally the audiobook business is booming and we’re delighted to see an option that will allow local audiobook readers to access content from Aotearoa (and the world) and support their local bookshop at the same time.” 

Earlier this week, Bookshop.org revealed it will be selling audiobooks and e-books via its UK site.