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US NAICS OD4396 | Industry Report

Audiobook Publishing in the US Industry Data and Analysis

AP
Alex Petridis
Analyst New York, United States June 2025

The audiobook publishing industry has grown enormously as smartphone use has skyrocketed. Shifting media consumption habits among consumers have primarily been in favor of audiobooks. With the proliferation of smartphones, streaming platforms like Audible and Spotify and the rise of on-demand content, audiobooks have become more accessible than ever.  Overall, increased accessibility and shifting consumer preferences have resulted in outsized growth. Audiobooks have become a staple of passive media consumption, perfect for long drives or study sessions. The industry has expanded exponentially across the board, with revenue expected to climb at a CAGR of 2.1% to $2.2 billion through the end of 2025, including an expected 3.6% growth in 2025 alone.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released June 2025.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code OD4396. Establishments in this industry primarily edit and design audiobooks. Additionally, industry operators engage in marketing activities and handle distribution agreements with wholesalers, brick-and-mortar and online stores. This industry excludes work completed by authors or disc manufacturers. Related terms covered in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States include e-book, mp3 cd and smartphone.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States include Digital audiobooks - fiction, Digital audiobooks - nonfiction and CD audiobooks.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States include Audible Inc. and Penguin Random House Audio.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States in 2026?

The market size of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is $2.2bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 176 businesses in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States are Audible Inc. and Penguin Random House Audio

What does the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States include?

Editing, designing and marketing CD audiobooks and Editing, designing and marketing digital audiobooks (fiction) are part of the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The company holding the most market share in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States is Audible Inc..

How competitive is the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Audiobook Publishing industry in the United States.

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