The Audio Publishers Association is hosting an International Summit of Audio Publishers on September 10 in New York City. The event, taking place at the New Yorker Hotel, aims to bring together publishers and distributors from diverse international markets to provide a global perspective on the audiobook industry.
Michele Cobb, executive director of the APA, has long advocated for a more international focus in the association’s work. “This event will provide a unique platform for publishers and distributors from diverse global locations to connect, collaborate, and explore the latest trends in the industry,” Cobb said.
The one-day conference will feature speakers including Chantal Restivo-Alessi, chief digital officer and CEO of International Foreign Language at HarperCollins Publishers; Winnie Li, senior manager and business development executive at OverDrive; Helena Gustafsson, chief content officer at Storytel; Owen Smith, VP of audiobooks product and technology at Spotify; and Lee Jarit, global head of publisher and partner relations at Audible, among others.
The program is structured to offer insights into various aspects of the global audiobook market. A morning session titled “What’s Happening in Your Part of the World?” will explore audio trends across different regions, and will be followed by a “fireside chat” with Restivo-Alessi, who will discuss the challenges and opportunities in international audiobook markets, share lessons on “testing new models, fighting piracy, and marketing around the world,” and investigate how “different market models and platforms impact consumption” and what audiobook professionals can learn from available data about what listeners want.
The afternoon will feature a session with Storytel’s Gustafsson, focusing on data-driven decision-making, global expansion, and the controversial topic of AI narration. Spotify’s Smith will then discuss how technology can empower authors, publishers, and listeners, with a focus on discovery and recommendations. The day will conclude with a presentation by Audible’s Jarit, who will delve into the company’s international growth strategies by using their entry into the Brazilian market as a case study. This will be followed by a cocktail reception.
The summit comes at a time when the adoption of audiobooks varies significantly across global markets. “Participants can expect to learn about the rapidly evolving landscape of the global audio market through short presentations about the state of the audio business in different marketplaces and languages worldwide,” Cobb said.
