June is Audiobook month and to celebrate, EveryLibrary has a fun slate of live interviews with the voices, authors, and producers behind some of the hottest audiobooks of the moment, with me as one of the interviewers.
But before we get to that exciting, free, live and on demand going on next week, first, I want to draw your attention to the annual survey and press release put out by the Audio Publishers Association every June. From the public page:
THE AUDIO PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SURVEYS SHOW AUDIOBOOK SALES JUMP 9% TO $2.43 BILLION
58% of Americans age 18+ have listened to an audiobook - an estimated 157 million people
June 5, 2026, New York, NY – The Audio Publishers Association Sales Survey, conducted by Toluna, shows audiobook sales revenue continuing to grow, reaching $2.43 billion in 2025, 9% over the previous year. Publishers reported over 750,000 active titles in 2025, a 43% increase from 2024.
The Audio Publishers Association 2026 Consumer Survey, conducted by Edison Research at SSRS, adds that among audiobook listeners, 63% listened in the last year and 35% in the last month. Audiobook Listeners averaged 3.8 audiobooks in the last year, and 26% listened to four or more titles in the last year.
Piracy is a growing concern, and the Audio Publishers Association is actively addressing this issue through a multi-pronged approach. Edison data reports that among those who listened to audiobooks in the last year, 45% reported listening to a free copy on YouTube in the last year. This percentage is up from 38% in 2025 (many audiobooks on YouTube are pirated from legitimate copyright holders).
Key Findings:
Audiobooks are valued for being convenient, relaxing, and easy to enjoy while doing other things. Audiobook Listeners cite the ability to multitask (86%) and to listen on-the-go (84%) as the top benefits. Seven in ten enjoy audiobooks as an alternative to screen time (70%).
Audiobook listening occurs across various platforms. Among those who listened in the last year, many used multiple sources: 49% purchased directly from websites/apps, 48% listened via a subscription service, 46% borrowed through a digital library app, and 42% used credits from a dedicated audiobook service.
The fastest growing genres in 2025 were Humor, General Fiction and Children’s - including YA - with General Fiction accounting for the largest share of revenue (27%). Science Fiction/Fantasy, Romance, and Mysteries/Thrillers/Suspense make up the remaining top genres by revenue.
The consumption and number of AI-narrated audiobooks published has increased in 2025, though willingness to try AI-narrated audiobooks dropped year-over-year, from 70% in 2025 to 61% in 2026. Only 16% of Audiobook Listeners have listened to an AI-voiced audiobook, and AI sales revenue amounted to .03% in 2025.
Sales revenue from Audio First publications has increased in 2025 compared with 2024, increasing from $91.1 million to $136 million (a rise of 50%). The share of Audio First publications also increased slightly, accounting for 6% of the total net revenue in 2025.
How the APA Consumer Study Was Conducted
In February 2026, Edison Research conducted an online survey of 1,706 spoken-word audio listeners ages 18 and older to measure listening behaviors, trends in the market, and provide insightful recommendations to understand and increase audiobook consumption. Respondents were divided into two survey tracks: Audiobook Listeners: 1,020 respondents who have ever listened to an audiobook; and Spoken-Word Listeners (no audiobooks): 686 respondents who have listened to a podcast or spoken-word radio program in the last month but have never listened to an audiobook.
Access to this and additional industry data is available to APA members.
About the Audio Publishers Association
Formed in 1986, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) is a not-for-profit trade association that advocates the common, collective business interests of audio publishers. The APA serves as a networking, educational, and information forum for its members; delivers programs, services, and awards that serve the common business interests for its members; and promotes policies and activities that accelerate audiobook awareness and industry growth.
Click here for a little more of the data breakdown as well. And here for charts with 5-Year Industry Data.
As it says above, the full report is available to members, but there is still a lot here for us to learn from and use. I will crunch these numbers alongside other year end reports this winter, comparing them to what else I see in the overall book world, but for now, take a look at the findings and think about your service to your audiobook readers. Are there places you can make some changes in your service? Are their ways you can reach more of the readers where they are? Share this post and talk about it with your collections people, your service desk people, and any digital services library workers you may have.
And after you are done with that, have some fun-- you and your patrons-- all next week, courtesy of EveryLibrary.
See below for all of the details, but here is the basics. 3x a night, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week, EveryLibrary is hosting conversations with the people behind some exciting audiobooks.
On a personal note, I am over the moon that I get to do the one about turning the Choose Your Own Adventure Books into audiobooks.
See the full info from EveryLibrary below. And remember, you can sign up to be reminded when they go live and you can send this out to your patrons to do the same for themselves. But also, ALL of the conversations EveryLibrary has hosted over the years are archived and can be seen at anytime on their YouTube page. Go to the "Live" tab. It is a great channel to have linked on your own websites and to promote for patrons as a place where they can see authors talking about their work. And since EveryLibrary invites every type of author, this is a great resource for all ages.
I would also suggest pursuing the YouTube recordings every once in a while to see what authors they have. Then when you see one with a new book coming out, or someone popular, add the link to those videos to the catalog record for the book they are discussing, put a QR code on the stacks near that author's books for readers to discover as they browse, and add links to any reading or author lists on your website or in Libby. This is an easy way to make your RA service more interactive AND anticipate your readers' needs. Imagine, they go to the shelf to find a book by David Gutterson and there on the shelf is a QR code to an interview with him (and me). It is as if the library knew they were interested in something and it magically made the invisible, visible for them. Literally the definition of being seen.
We claim we aim to meet people where they are. This is an easy way to show them that that is exactly what we are trying to do.
This is the kind of content readers love but have no idea how to find and or access on their own. And just maybe, while your patrons are there watching an interview, they might follow the links to donate to the good work EveryLibrary is doing each and every day for libraries all over the country.
See below for next week's specific live info. I will be doing the events, live every day at 5 eastern. And again, after they stream live, all interviews are archived here.
Maybe you will see me there. Or in the past via a recording.
Audiobook Month 2026 is coming to EveryLibrary Live! with three nights of conversations celebrating storytelling, narration, performance, and the growing cultural impact of audiobooks.
From June 15–17, readers, listeners, librarians, and publishing professionals are invited to join live and on-demand sessions featuring bestselling authors, award-winning narrators, producers, and audiobook creators from across the industry.
This year’s event, "Stories You Hear Come to Life", highlights the artistry and accessibility of audiobooks while celebrating the libraries that help connect readers and listeners to these stories every day.
Featured guests include Ash Perez, John Kenney, Jane Hamilton, Helen Laser, Kelsey Impicciche, Natalie Naudus, and Soman Chainani, along with audiobook producers and special guests from leading publishing houses and audio studios, including Anne Fonteneau (Blackstone) and the Choose Your Own Adventure Audio team.
Audiobook Month 2026 is made possible through the support and participation of major publishing and audiobook partners, including Simon & Schuster, Zibby Media, HarperCollins, Blackstone Publishing, Penguin Random House, and the team behind the iconic Choose Your Own Adventure audiobooks.
Each evening will be guest-hosted by Gigi Howard from the hit podcast "Drinks in the Library" and Becky Spratford of RA for All and author of the recently released "Why I Love Horror". Together, they bring deep readers’ advisory expertise, energy, and a passion for connecting audiences with books, authors, and audio storytelling.
RSVP NOW to get a reminder and links each day to these exciting programs.
Event Schedule
Monday, June 15
5:00 PM EDT — Speak Now: Love, Loss, and Second Chances in Full Cast Audio
Featuring Ash Perez discussing the queer romance novel Speak Now and its immersive full-cast audiobook production featuring performers including Jena Malone and Bahni Turpin. Sponsored by Simon & Schuster.
7:00 PM EDT — Finding Your Way: Humor, Heart, and Reinvention, Read and Heard
A conversation with John Kenney and Jane Hamilton about storytelling, reinvention, and the audiobook experience. Sponsored by Zibby Media.
Tuesday, June 16
5:00 PM EDT — Choose Your Own Adventure Audio Experience
An interactive look at how the beloved Choose Your Own Adventure books became immersive audiobook adventures, preserving the spirit of reader choice in audio form.
7:00 PM EDT — Behind the Mic: The Art of Audiobook Narration with Helen Laser
Award-winning narrator Helen Laser shares insights into performance, character development, and the emotional craft of narration. Sponsored by HarperCollins and audiobook publishing partners.
9:00 PM EDT - The Future of Listening and the Enduring Role of CDs: A Conversation with Anne Fonteneau
Blackstone CSO Anne Fonteneau will discuss the continued growth of digital listening as well as the enduring role of CDs in libraries and communities.
Wednesday, June 17
5:00 PM EDT — From Screen to Sea with Kelsey Impicciche and Natalie Naudus
Kelsey Impicciche and Natalie Naudus discuss Voice of the Ocean, romantasy storytelling, online creator culture, and bringing fantasy worlds to life through audio. Sponsored by Blackstone Publishing.
7:00 PM EDT — Power, Youth, and Revolution: Soman Chainani on Young World
Join bestselling author Soman Chainani and Zeno Robinson, the lead narrator of the audiobook, to discuss the immersive full-cast adaptation of "Young World".
9:00 PM EDT - Still Listening: Why Audiobook CDs Matter in Today's Libraries
We will share a conversation with Cindy Fehmel, Collection Development Librarian/AV for the St. Louis County (MO) Library, one of the nation's largest purchasers of audiobook CDs. Cindy will share insights on patron listening habits, audiobook collection development, and why CDs continue to play an important role in library service even as digital audiobook use continues to grow.
Libraries are one of the most important pathways to audiobook discovery and access in the United States. Audiobook Month 2026 celebrates not only the creators and performers behind these works but also the public, school, and academic libraries that ensure stories remain free, inclusive, and accessible to everyone.
Watch live on Facebook and YouTube or catch every session later on-demand. RSVP now to get a reminder sent each day and share the invite with your fellow readers and listeners. Follow along throughout the week on EveryLibrary Live! on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
When
June 15, 2026 at 5:00pm - June 18, 2026Where
EveryLibrary Facebook and YouTube Live
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