Writers earn nothing from audiobooks

A recent study among nearly 700 authors from the Authors' Association and Stichting Lira reveals shocking figures about the compensation for writers and translators of audiobooks. Of the respondents, as many as 42% receive nothing at all from their publishers for this specific form of authorship. This raises important questions about the fairness and sustainability of the current publishing model within the rapidly growing audiobook market.

The research not only indicates that a significant portion of writers receives a meager payment. For those who do receive compensation, it often does not correspond to the effort that has been put into creating the audiobook. This shows that despite the increasing popularity of audiobooks in the market, the financial benefits for the creators themselves lag behind. This could have long-term consequences for the diversity and quality of the content offered.

The findings of the research highlight the need for a revision of the agreements between authors and publishers. Authors deserve to be compensated fairly for their work, especially as audiobooks become more mainstream. This issue affects not only the writers themselves but also the readers who rely on high-quality and well-represented material.

The discussion about fair compensation for creatives is therefore more relevant than ever. It seems essential that action is taken to revise the relationships between writers and publishers, so that the revenue distribution becomes fairer. Only then can the audiobook market continue to grow without putting pressure on the people who create this content.

Read the full article from Bright.