{"id":10155,"date":"2021-02-24T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2021-02-24T12:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pickmyreader.com\/?p=10155"},"modified":"2021-02-24T12:00:20","modified_gmt":"2021-02-24T12:00:20","slug":"why-are-audiobooks-so-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pickmyreader.com\/why-are-audiobooks-so-expensive\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Audiobooks so Expensive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even committed book lovers regularly question why audiobooks are so expensive.<\/p>\n

Why is this?<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll be exploring this issue briefly today so you can get to the bottom of this disproportionately expensive pricing once and for all.<\/p>\n

Why Are Audiobooks So Expensive?<\/h2>\n

You may look at an audiobook and ask yourself how a simple collection of audio files commands a higher price tag than a large physical book, and substantially higher in the case of e-books.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you\u2019re thinking that since there\u2019s no need to print hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of copies, this medium should be cheaper rather than more expensive.<\/p>\n

The primary reason for the discrepancy in pricing between audiobooks and either printed books or e-books comes down to two simple words: production costs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The average audiobooks costs $300 to $400 for each unfinished hour. A reasonably short 12-hour audio book would cost from $3600 to almost $5000 to produce.<\/p>\n

There are many variables that can impact production costs, mainly the status of the narrator. Famous actors don\u2019t come cheap, and a star onboard can easily skyrocket these costs.<\/p>\n

Why is it that these costs mount to such an extent, then?<\/p>\n

Why Are Audiobook Production Costs So High?<\/h2>\n

Where a regular book or an e-book involves the author alone, making an audiobook takes a large team of professionals.<\/p>\n

The narrator needs to be paid, and this often eats up a large chunk of the overall costs, especially if the narrator is a celebrity.<\/p>\n

Beyond this, there are recording engineers, mastering engineers, and audiobook editors who all play a costly but crucial role in production.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll look now at how the overall cost of an audiobook typically breaks down.<\/p>\n

6 Reasons Why Audiobooks Are So Expensive<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Good narrators don\u2019t come cheap<\/li>\n
  2. A skilled team of professionals is needed<\/li>\n
  3. Audiobooks are lengthy<\/li>\n
  4. Audiobooks don\u2019t sell in large volumes<\/li>\n
  5. There are royalties due to the publisher and to Audible<\/li>\n
  6. The promotional costs need recouping<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    1) Good narrators don\u2019t come cheap<\/h3>\n

    The quality of the narration will make or break an audiobook.<\/p>\n

    A great narrator will bring the story vividly to life. Anything less than that will result in an underwhelming listener experience. Ask yourself when was the last time you continued listening to a story for 10 hours or more unless you engaged with the narrator.<\/p>\n

    With high-profile audiobooks, the cost often extends to hiring a celebrity narrator. This drives the production costs up further.<\/p>\n

    Many audiobooks require multiple narrators, introducing a new layer of complexity and costs.<\/p>\n

    2) A skilled team of professionals is needed<\/h3>\n

    The team may revolve around the narrator, but there are other key roles that need fulfilling to produce a great audiobook.<\/p>\n

    Audio engineers at an editing studio will record and edit the audiobook, but this doesn\u2019t come cheap.<\/p>\n

    Quality control is pleasingly high with audiobooks. ACX (the Audiobook Creation Exchange<\/a>) is a robust marketplace connecting publishers of audiobooks with authors, narrators, agents, and rights holders. The Audible-owned platform has rigorous technical requirements for audio quality, keeping the bar high for listeners. At the same time, though, this drives costs higher.<\/p>\n

    Editors and mastering engineers are vital to ensure the finished product is smooth, seamless, and worthy of sale on Audible, iTunes, and Amazon.<\/p>\n

    3) Audiobooks are lengthy<\/h3>\n

    Even when publishers and authors make every effort to keep the costs of an audiobook down, it\u2019s not always possible.<\/p>\n

    Audible has a pricing band structure based on the length of the audiobook. While this should be good news for the consumer, it also means pricing is not within the control of the publisher. If, for example, a publisher wanted to start with a low price to encourage sales volume of the long audiobook of a new author, this isn\u2019t possible.<\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s a glimpse at that pricing structure:<\/p>\n