FutureBook to present new audiobook research

Exclusive research into the growing audiobook market conducted by Harris Interactive is to presented at FutureBook Live 2019, The Bookseller's publishing conference. The study, along with panels on audiobook recording, commissioning, new technology, retailing, and podcasting will form the basis of the audiobook stream that was successfully introduced to the FutureBook conference in 2016.

Harris Interactive is to survey its audience on why they choose audiobooks over podcasts, what prompts them to listen, how they listen, and what their behaviour looks like once they begin listening to audio. Lee Langford, research director at Harris, will take to the stage ahead of Paul Abbassi, founder of Bookstat, who will follow-up his morning data-led keynote with a deep-dive into the digital audiobook market.

Speakers scheduled for the audiobook stream include Troy Juliar, chief content officer of RB Media; Mark Pearson, co-founder of audiobook start-up Libro.fm; Rhian Roberts, commissioning editor, digital & podcasts at BBC Radio; Alice Lloyd, commissioning editor for audio and podcasts at Orion; Rachel Mallender, head of new content development at Blinkist; and, Ruth Fitzsimons, managing director of Podfront, a joint venture between US podcasters Stitcher and Wondery.

In addition to the panels, Bookwire, the digital distribution company, is to run a masterclass for attending publishers on when to stop selling rights and begin publishing audio, run by audio specialist Videl Bar-Kar.

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller, said: "Now in its fourth year, the audiobook stream continues to evolve as the market for audio blossoms: this year we are looking at everything from who buys audio to how can booksellers retail audio; we'll be asking who is commissioning what and for whom, and how new technologies will advance what we can record and listen to. Most importantly, we'll be arming our audience with data and insight so they can judge for themselves how best to approach this increasingly important market."

A limited number of tickets are now available to buy at Early Bird rates until 11th October. There is also a three for two offer available on standard tickets.

Keynotes this year include Waterstones m.d. James Daunt, the brand strategist behind #Merky Books Akua Agyemfra, AI specialist Chris Duffey, data analyst Paul Abbassi, a.k.a. Data Guy, and Orion m.d. Katie Espiner.

The coveted FutureBook Awards are also now open for submissions, including BookTech Company of the Year, Podcast of the Year, and the FutureBook Person of the Year, who will once again deliver the closing keynote.

As well as attending the conference, for the first time delegates can apply to attend Day of Code, a training event hosted by Consonance on 22nd November. Only 40 places are up for grabs, so book early to avoid disappointment.