Audio books Sales figures

• In 2004, APA’s (Audio Publishers Association ) publisher members participated

 in a sales survey that evaluated sales data from 2001- 2003:

o According to the survey, retail and wholesale sales of audio books increased

14 percent and library sales increased by 7 percent from 2002-2003.

(Audio Publishers Association, December 2004)

• Factoring in sales from non-reporting APA members and other audiobook

companies who are not members, APA estimates the size of the

audiobook market is $800 million. (Audio Publishers Association,

December 2004)

• Overall sales growth from 2002 to 2003 is up 5.1 percent. (Audio

Publishers Association, December 2004)

• Shifts in format continue to advance with revenue of audio books on CD sales

 increasing from 35% in 2002 to 45% in 2003. Cassette revenue decreased from

 2002 to 2003 (58% to 49%). Returns as a percentage of sales showed a

 steady decrease since 2001, as indicated by the 31.1 percent drop between

 2001 and 2002 and 5.5 percent drop between 2002 and 2003. (Audio

Publishers Association, December 2004)

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• The market share for abridged and unabridged audiobooks was

essentially unchanged from 2002 to 2003. Abridged audiobooks sales

 represented approximately 21% of the overall sales dollars and unabridged

represented 71%. (Audio Publishers Association, December 2004)

• Readers are increasingly turning to audiobooks as a way to supplement

their reading time, and publishers say it’s now expected that an audiobook

will account for 10 to 15 percent of a book’s overall sale. (“Analysis: Some

of the Factors Contributing to the Growth of Audio Books,” National Public

Radio, January 27, 2005)

* taken from the APA fact shit

Read more audio books statistics :

Audio books consumer use

Audio books education

Audio books marketing and production

Audio books sales figures