Audiobook distribution
Getting the finished audio to every listener who wants it.
Retailer delivery, library supply, metadata and royalty reporting for audio editions — with the same transparency we apply to print.
Overview
A finished master is only half of an audio edition.
Audio channels each have their own file specification, metadata schema, chapter conventions and exclusivity terms. A master that satisfies one retailer can be rejected by the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the recording itself.
We prepare per-channel deliverables from your approved master, submit them, monitor ingestion, and confirm the edition is live and correctly presented before we tell you it is published.
Where a channel asks for exclusivity in exchange for a higher rate, we set out what you would be giving up and let you decide. We never sign an exclusivity term on your behalf.
What is included
Scope, in detail.
Everything listed here appears as a line item in your written scope, with the responsible lead named.
01
Retailer delivery
Per-channel file preparation and submission to major audiobook retailers and subscription services.
02
Library and education supply
Delivery to library aggregators and institutional platforms where the title is a fit.
03
Chapter and metadata build
Chapter markers, runtimes, narrator credits, series data and territory rights recorded per channel.
04
Sample selection
Retail sample chosen and cut to show the narration at its most representative, not just the first five minutes.
05
Territory management
Rights-accurate territory settings so a licensed market is never double-sold.
06
Ingestion monitoring
We track each submission until the edition is live, and fix rejections rather than reporting them back to you.
07
Price and promotion setup
Launch pricing, currency checks and participation in channel promotions where they benefit you.
08
Royalty reporting
Consolidated statements across channels on a fixed schedule, in a format you can read without help.
Method
How the work runs.
Each stage ends with something you can read, hear or check before the next stage starts.
Stage one
Master intake
We validate the approved master against each channel's technical specification and flag anything that needs a remaster.
Stage two
Channel plan
We agree which channels the edition goes to, in which territories, and whether any exclusivity is worth considering.
Stage three
Metadata and samples
Metadata sheets, chapter data and retail samples prepared per channel for your approval.
Stage four
Submission
Files delivered, ingestion tracked, and rejections resolved by us until the edition is accepted.
Stage five
Live verification
We check the live listing on each channel: title, credits, sample, price, territory and runtime.
Stage six
Reporting
First statement issued on schedule, then on a fixed cycle for as long as the edition is in distribution.
Deliverables
What you receive.
Files, documents and reports are yours. We keep no rights over deliverables beyond what a signed agreement states.
Channel report
Where the edition is live, in which territories, at which price, with links.
Metadata record
The exact metadata submitted per channel, kept for future editions and corrections.
Archive package
Masters, per-channel deliverables and samples archived and available to you on request.
Royalty statements
Consolidated, per-channel figures with the deductions shown rather than netted out.
Reference
Channel types we deliver to.
Specific platforms are confirmed per title, since availability depends on territory, rights and language.
| Channel type | Model | Territory reach | Typical time to live |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major audio retailers | À la carte and credit | Worldwide, rights permitting | 1–3 weeks |
| Subscription platforms | Per-minute listened | Territory-dependent | 2–4 weeks |
| Library aggregators | Licence per copy | Regional | 3–6 weeks |
| Education platforms | Institutional licence | Regional | 4–8 weeks |
| Direct sales | Author-owned storefront | Worldwide | 1–2 weeks |
| Territory-specific stores | Local retail terms | Single market | 2–5 weeks |
Scale
Context for planning.
Indicative figures to help you plan. Project-specific numbers are always confirmed in your quotation.
0
Channel types in the standard plan
0%
Listings verified live before we report
0
Royalty statements per year
0
Exclusivity terms signed without you
Questions
Frequently asked.
Do you require exclusivity?
No. We present exclusivity offers with their trade-offs and act on your written decision.
Can you distribute audio you did not produce?
Yes, provided the master meets channel specification and you hold the necessary rights. We check both before quoting.
How long until the audiobook is on sale?
Most retail channels ingest within one to three weeks of submission. Library and education platforms take longer.
Who holds the audio rights?
You do, unless a signed agreement says otherwise. Distribution is a licence to supply, not a transfer of rights.
Next step
Have a finished master?
Send the specification and the territories you control. We will tell you which channels are open to the edition and what it takes to get there.