RBmedia buys John Verlag German catalogue

Audiobook publisher RBmedia has acquired John Verlag’s German-language audiobook catalogue, as it continues its expansion into international markets. 

Founded by journalist Michael John in 2006, John Verlag publishes predominantly non-fiction audiobooks in the politics, investigative journalism, business, biographies and advice genres. Its authors include Robert Marc Lehmann, Martin Sonneborn, Alice Schwarzer, Robin Alexander and Elton John.

Titles acquired through this deal will be added to the company’s RBmedia Verlag audio brand. This includes Football Leaks by Rafael Buschmann and Michael Wulzinger, The Driven by Robin Alexander and The Schulz Story by Markus Feldenkirchen, among others. 

Verlag, who is publisher and m.d., said: “I founded John Verlag in 2006 and today it has an extensive and high-quality audiobook publishing programme. We live in times of increasing tendentious reporting by the media. It is therefore becoming increasingly important that unfiltered, serious and well-founded information is available in the form of books and audiobooks. Together with RBmedia, we look forward to expanding this portfolio.”

Miles Stevens-Hoare, managing director of RBmedia International, added: “The acquisition of John Verlag adds to RBmedia’s presence in the German audiobook market and continues our international expansion. 

“Since 2021 RBmedia has extended its global footprint with the acquisition of five European audiobook catalogues –Booka, ABOD, Hörbuch München, Éditions Thélème, and now John Verlag. This strong growth in international markets demonstrates the rising popularity of audiobooks around the world.”