Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: Audie Awards Finalists (w/ bonus access to LJ's best audio books)

This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.  

As a huge audiobook fan I am excited to start the week celebrating the format.

Last week, the Audio Publishers Association announced the finalists for the 2024 Audie Awards. From the official press release: 

AUDIO PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR THE 2024 AUDIE AWARDS® 

MERYL STREEP, BONO, MICHELLE WILLIAMS, DOLLY PARTON, MICHELLE OBAMA, SHERYL LEE RALPH, JANUARY LAVOY, “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC, AND DION GRAHAM AMONG THE ILLUSTRIOUS LIST OF FINALISTS 

“All the Sinners Bleed,” “King: A Life,” “Making It So,” “None of This is True,” “The Light We Carry,” “The Wager,” and “Tom Lake” Each Earned Multiple Nominations

“Fourth Wing,” “Never Finished,” “Spare,” “The Covenant of Water,” and “The Woman in Me” to Receive Inaugural APA Choice Recognition

Winners Will Be Unveiled at the March 4 Gala in Los Angeles

JANUARY 30, 2024, NEW YORK, NY – Today, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced finalists for the 2024 Audie Awards®, the premier awards program recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment. Full list of finalists below. Winners across 27 competitive categories will be revealed at the Audie Awards Gala on March 4 in Los Angeles. 

“On behalf of the Audio Publishers Association, we congratulate all of our Audie Awards finalists,” exclaimed Sean McManus, president of the APA. “As we gather on March 4 to honor the art of human narration, the remarkable display of talent and creativity that breathes life into these audiobooks is truly inspiring. We’re also proud to announce category reforms and recognitions that reflect the rich tapestry of the world of audio and literary entertainment.”

In a change that reflects the APA’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, the Best Male Narrator and Best Female Narrator categories – two of the top awards that recognize the importance of performance in audio storytelling – have been transformed to Best Fiction Narrator and Best Non-Fiction Narrator. 

At this year’s ceremony the APA will also recognize audiobooks that not only captivated listeners but also became cultural phenomenons. This year’s inaugural APA Choice honorees include “Fourth Wing,” “Never Finished,” “Spare,” “The Covenant of Water,” and “The Woman in Me.” 

Celebrate the finalists with our Social Media Graphics!

I want to point out a few things about this awards list, some are things every award list provides us and a few things that are unique to the Audies specifically.

First, this is the top award for audio books. There is no higher recognition an audiobook can receive. For that reason alone, this should be a top collection development tool and suggestion engine. You need a sure bet audio, well here are many, with enough diversity in how the stories are told that you are sure to find a proven winner for any reader.

Second, there are so many categories, yes, but they are also useful to use as your guide as you have the RA conversation with a potential audiobook reader. There are 27 [!] categories. These categories are in common genres, which helps us find the best audio for genre readers. They are also in larger categories such as faith based or business.  But wait, there's more. There are also categories specific to how a book is narrated-- multiple narrators, single narrator, or cast performance. Plus an audio original category and a "cultural phenomenon" category to make sure the most popular titles are recognized somewhere.  Not only do the categories themselves read as the script you can use to conduct a conversation with a reader as you help them find the right audiobook for them, but they also speak to the fact that audiobooks are a format, not a genre, and all readers of this format need to see their preferences in the choices of "best." Even if ou are not an audiobook reader, the 27 categories can help you see the major appeal factors that these readers are looking for.

Third, and you knew this was coming, the backlist is easy to access. If you go to the Audie Awards homepage here and scroll to the bottom, you can access every winner and finalist, ever, in one downloadable document. There is also this awesome page for Audiobook fans that provides free access to  watch the awards shows going back to 2020. Right on the page.

Fourth, did you catch that last line of the press release above? "Celebrate the finalists with our Social Media Graphics!" That link takes you to a HUGE Google drive of graphics that can be used on your websites or in your libraries. There are multiple graphics for every category that you can download and use. For example, here is the Audiobook of the year finalists graphic from that link:

Finally, the APA is using their influence in the larger world to act on issues of inclusion and diversity and become a role model for change for others. From above and the press release: 

"In a change that reflects the APA’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, the Best Male Narrator and Best Female Narrator categories – two of the top awards that recognize the importance of performance in audio storytelling – have been transformed to Best Fiction Narrator and Best Non-Fiction Narrator. "

When awards offer only best female or male narrators as a top award, it leaves out non-binary performers from consideration, at best, or forces performers to be misgendered at worst. If you have to misgender someone whose work is exception in order to allow them to win an award, maybe it is time you change the award. People have been on the Motional Picture Academy to do this as well-- to remove the gendering in the best performance categories. I don't see it happening for the Oscars anytime soon, but I do applaud the Audies for leading by example here.

Before we leave the Audie Awards behind, I also wanted to point you to Library Journal who also recently released their Best Audiobooks of 2023 list here. Add these titles into your sure best basket as well.

For more from me on audiobooks, you can click here.