Publishing Advances

Beyond Retail: Audiobook Publishing & Rights Opportunities.

Self-publishing isn't the only route to audio. Some authors license their audio rights to a publisher — here's how that works.

Self-publishing

You produce and own the audiobook.

You fund production, choose the narrator, control distribution and pricing, and receive royalties from the platforms or distributor you choose.

Publishing agreement

A publisher licenses your audio rights.

The publisher funds production and distribution and may pay an advance against royalties — in exchange for control of the audio rights for the agreed term and territory.

Key Concepts

What every author should understand.

Audio-rights licensing

Granting a publisher the right to produce and sell your audiobook for a defined territory, term and set of formats.

Audiobook publishers

Companies that acquire audio rights, fund production and distribute titles through their own channels.

Traditional audio publishing agreements

Contracts setting out rights granted, advance, royalties, accounting periods and approvals.

Advances against royalties

An up-front payment that is recovered from your future royalties before further payments are made.

Rights acquisition

Publishers choose titles selectively, often based on existing sales, genre demand or agent submissions.

Royalty recoupment

Royalties first repay the advance; once it 'earns out', ongoing royalties are paid to the author.

Manuscript submission processes

Many large publishers accept agented submissions only; some programs run periodic open calls.

Contractual terms

Term length, territory, reversion clauses, narrator approval and royalty basis all matter.

Rights ownership

Licensing is not selling your book — but it does restrict what you can do with audio rights during the term.

International audio licensing

Audio rights can be licensed by territory or language, creating separate opportunities.

Publisher Directory

Audiobook publishers and programs.

Informational only. Listing does not mean a publisher accepts direct or unsolicited submissions, and no submission window is implied.

Spotify Audiobook Selects

A Spotify program offering selected independent authors professional audio production, an advance, royalties, promotion and distribution.

Submissions: Spotify describes periodic themed calls for manuscripts. Check the official page for whether a call is currently open.

Official website

Podium Entertainment

An independent publisher working across audio, print and digital formats, including with independently established authors.

Submissions: Its official About page invites authors to share links to available work — not necessarily an open call for unpublished manuscripts.

Official website

Tantor Audio

An audiobook publishing brand within RBmedia, publishing emerging and established authors.

Submissions: No public unsolicited-submission policy confirmed.

Official website

RBmedia

An audiobook publishing group operating multiple audio brands with worldwide distribution.

Submissions: No public unsolicited-submission policy confirmed.

Official website

Penguin Random House Audio

The audiobook publishing division of Penguin Random House.

Submissions: Generally works with agented submissions, subject to specifically announced exceptions.

Official website

Hachette Audio

Hachette Book Group's audiobook imprint.

Submissions: No public unsolicited-submission policy confirmed for this audio imprint.

Official website

Macmillan Audio

Macmillan's audiobook publishing division.

Submissions: Macmillan states it does not accept unsolicited manuscripts; the audio contact page covers narrator demos, not author submissions.

Official website

Simon & Schuster Audio

Simon & Schuster's audiobook publishing division.

Submissions: Simon & Schuster does not review unsolicited manuscripts and recommends working with a literary agent.

Official website

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