Audio Publishers Association Reports Audiobook Sales Jump 9% to $2.43 Billion

From an APA Release:

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 45% of listeners have listened to an audiobook on YouTube, up from 35% in 2024 (many of which 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.

Source

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