Primary source: Audio Publishers Association (APA) Sales Survey (released June 2, 2025). View original report
On June 2, 2025, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) released its annual sales survey for calendar year 2024. Total U.S. audiobook sales from participating publishers reached $2.22 billion, a 13% increase over 2023. Growth had slowed to 9% in 2023 after several years of double-digit gains, so the 2024 rebound restored a faster pace.
Digital audio drove nearly all of the revenue. The APA reported that digital formats accounted for 99% of audiobook revenue in 2024 and grew 14% year over year. Toluna conducted the sales survey using data from major audio publishers including Audible, Hachette Audio, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster.
Consumer reach
Alongside the sales figures, the APA published highlights from its 2025 consumer survey conducted by Edison Research in February 2025. Among U.S. adults aged 18 and older, 51% said they had listened to an audiobook at some point. Edison weighted results to national audience composition using the Infinite Dial 2025 study.
Publishers Weekly covered the release on June 2, 2025, noting that Edison surveyed roughly 1,700 American adults. The consumer data helps explain why publishers continue to invest in audio even when print unit growth is modest: the listener base is broad and still expanding.
Piracy as a market factor
The APA consumer survey also flagged a practical concern for rights holders. 35% of audiobook listeners reported listening on YouTube, up from 27% in 2023. The association noted that most audiobook content on YouTube is unauthorized, and free access was among the top reasons listeners cited for using the platform. The APA said it is working on responses to stem piracy.
Implications for publishers
Audio is no longer a niche format bolted onto print contracts. For many nonfiction and fiction titles, day-one audio release is standard, and backlist audio rights can extend title revenue for years. Houses that treat audio as a separate P&L line, with distinct production schedules and marketing plans, are better positioned to capture share in a channel still growing faster than print units.
Source: Audio Publishers Association Sales Survey and 2025 Consumer Survey highlights, released June 2, 2025. Toluna (sales) and Edison Research (consumer). Analysis by The Idea Logical Company.