Some of the audiobook publishers listed here publish audiobooks from a wide variety of categories, while others focus on specific genres or age groups. Take your time and explore them all; you’re sure to find something you like.
Note for screen readers:
Each audiobook publisher name in the list is a header. Following each audiobook publisher name is a descriptive paragraph, and then a link to the audiobook publisher.Alien Voices:
Alien Voices was founded and operated by Leonard Nimoy, along with a few other Star trek cast members. Their focus was to make full cast audio productions of older science fiction works. More of a production company than a publisher, Alien Voices created the audiobooks and I believe they were sold through Simon & Schuster. They are no longer in business, but you can apparently still buy some of the audiobooks they produced if you look around. No home page available.
Atlanta Radio Theater Company
The Atlanta Radio Theater Company is a live theater group that makes digital recordings of their productions. The end result is something like an old-time radio program. According to their website, “We like to think that what we do is classic, old-time radio, as it would sound with today’s technology and dramatic techniques.” ARTC’s online catalog features a little bit of everything, but my favorite category is their “SF by Gaslight” which includes full-cast productions of classics like Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde, Dracula, etc.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Atlanta Radio Theater Company.
Audio Bookshelf
Audio Bookshelf has unabridged award-winning audiobooks for listeners of all ages, with a special focus on educators and library service to children and young adults. Their catalog features a lot of biographies and histories. In 2011, Audio Bookshelf was merged with AudioGo. Audio BookShelf’s titles are now available under AudioGo’s AudioGo children’s imprint.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Audio Bookshelf.
The AudioComics Company
The AudioComics Company is exactly what it sounds like. They create full-cast audio productions of creator-owned comic books, graphic novels, and web comics. These are not what you might consider mainstream comics, but as The AudioComics Company says, “There’s a lot more to comics than DC and Marvel, just don’t tell DC and Marvel that.”
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher The AudioComics Company.
AudioGo:
AudioGo was formerly known as BBC Audiobooks America. They have a good selection of BBC radio and television programs, including Doctor Who. They have regular audiobooks as well, but probably not much that you’re familiar with.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher AudioGo
Audio Holdings
Audio Holding’s website promises audiobooks from all of the major genres, but there are very few actual audiobooks, and no online shopping as of yet. Not sure if they are a new audiobook publisher, or just recently have gone online.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Audio Holdings.
AudioLark
AudioLark specializes in romance audiobooks, and their catalog features every kind of romance you can imagine, whether it’s contemporary, historical, military, or suspense. According to AudioLark’s website, AudioLark is “Founded by women with women in mind, we provide a wide range of genres so that everyone can find the perfect audiobook romance at the perfect price.”
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher AudioLark.
Audio Partners
Audio Partners published audiobooks in a variety of genres. In 2007 they were acquired by BBC Audiobooks America, which subsequently changed its name to AudioGo. This made AudioGo the exclusive publisher of all unabridged Agatha Christie audiobooks in North America. You’ll find a link to AudioGo above.
Audio Realms
Audio Realms publishes audiobooks specifically in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. I’ve never heard of most of the authors they feature, but they do have Edgar Rice burroughs and H P Lovecraft in their catalog. Audio Realms may be a public domain publisher.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Audio Realms.
Audio Renaissance:
Audio Renaissance is no longer in business. The audiobooks they published are still available from Macmillan Audio which can be found further down the list.
Bantam-Doubleday-Dell:
Bantam-Doubleday-Dell is just one imprint under the Random House group. They published a lot of Louis L’Amour’s audiobooks.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Bantam-Doubleday-Dell
BBC Audiobooks America:
See AudioGo.
Blackstone Audio:
Blackstone Audio is rapidly becoming one of the big names in the audiobook publishing industry. Their selection is already tremendous and growing quickly. You’ll find a lot to love at Blackstone, including many classic Stephen King audiobooks.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Blackstone Audio
Bolinda Publishing
Bolinda is one of the smaller audiobook publishers around, but they offer titles in most of the major genres and produce audiobooks for adults, young adults, and children. Bolinda is either owned by, or is partnered with, Brilliance Audio, and many of their titles can also be found in Brilliance’s online catalog.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Bolinda Publishing.
BOOKS IN MOTION
Books In Motion is a lesser-known publisher, but they offer audiobooks in all the major categories, including adventure, mystery, science fiction, western, non fiction, and more. The thing I really like about Books In Motion is that they offer ratings, such as PG or R, for the audiobooks listed on their website. Audiobooks are available in CD or downloadable formats.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Books In Motion.
Books on Tape:
books On Tape was founded way back in the 1970’s, and is one of the pioneers of the audiobook publishing industry. They are now a part of the Random House family and have a pretty huge selection of audiobooks in their catalog.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Books On Tape
Brilliance Audio:
Brilliance Audio considers themselves to be the largest independent audiobook publisher in the United States, with dozens of new titles being published every month.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Brilliance Audio
Buzzy Multimedia
Buzzy Multimedia specializes in science fiction, fantasy, and horror audiobooks, but they offer very few titles. They are unique, however, in that they also sell t-shirts on their website. Interesting combination.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Buzzy Multimedia.
Chivers Press
Many years ago, there was a little audiobook publisher called Chivers Press. In 2001, Chivers was acquired by BBC Worldwide, which in turn was acquired by AudioGo. I’m not sure if any audiobooks are still being published under the Chivers imprint, but if they are, you can find them at AudioGo.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher AudioGo.
Christianaudio
Christianaudio is just what it sounds like, a publisher of Christian audiobooks. They publishe audiobooks under three main imprints, Hovel Audio, Christianaudio Seed, and Christianaudio Fiction. Their catalog features a large selection of Tim Lahaye audiobooks.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Christianaudio.
Christianaudio Fiction
See Christianaudio.
Christianaudio Seed
See Christianaudio.
Crossroad Press:
Crossroad Press is a small, independent audiobook publisher who offers audiobooks in download form only.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Crossroad Press
Full Cast Audio
Full Cast Audio focuses entirely on full cast audio productions. “Always full cast, always unabridged, always family friendly,” is their motto. That pretty much says it all, audiobooks the whole family can enjoy together.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Full Cast Audio.
Galaxy Audio:
Galaxy Audio, an division of Galaxy Press, is a highly specialized audiobook publisher. They are currently working on a project to produce L Ron Hubbard’s short fiction of the 1930’s and 1940’s in an audio format.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Galaxy Audio
Graphic Audio:
Graphic Audio specializes in the production of comic books and graphic novels in an audio format. They create full cast audio productions enhanced with music and sound effects.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Graphic Audio
Hachette Audio:
Hachette Audio, formerly Time-Warner Audio, is a small, independent audiobook publisher that seems to focus more on young adult and teen literature. James Patterson is one of the more widely known authors in their repertoire.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Hachette Audio
Harper Audio:
Harper Audio is a small, independent audiobook publisher offering works of poetry as well as contemporary and classic literature.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Harper Audio
Highbridge Audio:
Highbridge Audio is one of the smaller audiobook publishers out there, but they have some good stuff. In addition to traditional audiobooks, they also offer radio program collections.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Highbridge Audio
Hovel Audio
See Christianaudio.
Hyperion Audio:
Hyperion Audio is an imprint of the Hyperion Books group, which is in turn a division of the Walt Disney Company. The name Hyperion comes from the name of the street Walt Disney studios was located on prior to 1939. The audiobook publishing portion of Hyperion does not have a separate website.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Hyperion Audio
Iambik Audio:
Iambik Audio is another upstart in the audiobook publishing business, having launched in October 2010, and offering audiobooks only in downloadable formats. Their catalog is growing quickly, however, and the prices are low.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Iambik
Jimcin Recordings
A small, home operation, Jimcin Recordings makes audio recordings of public domain material and sells them through Audible and Itunes.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Jimcin Recordings.
Last Word Audio:
Last Word Audio is a very new audiobook publisher, having published their first audio title in august of 2010. So far, it’s a one-man operation so the catalog is not growing quickly, but there are some good titles available.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Last Word Audio
Listen and Live Audio:
Listen and Live Audio provides a variety of general interest fiction and non-fiction audiobooks and radio theater. They only have around 600 titles in their catalog, but they do boast some big name narrators.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Listen and Live Audio
Listening Library:
Listening Library is the imprint of Random House which publishes audiobooks for children, teens, and young adults. This is the imprint that published the Harry Potter audiobooks a few years ago.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Listening Library
Macmillan Audio:
Macmillan Audio, formerly Audio Renaissance, is one of the larger audiobook publishers around. They have a comprehensive selection of titles, featuring many top authors.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Macmillan Audio
Naxos Audiobooks
Naxos has a little bit of everything in their catalog, including non fiction, poetry, and audiobooks for kids. Their special focus is on classic literature.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Naxos Audiobooks.
Oasis Audio
Oasis Audio specializes in inspirational and self-help audiobooks, including Christian materials and Bibles.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Oasis Audio.
Penguin Audio:
The Penguin Group encompasses a large handful of smaller publishing imprints including Putnam and Viking. As far as I can tell, Penguin Audio handles the audiobook publishing for all of those imprints. They have a good selection of titles, including several of Stephen King’s audiobooks.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Penguin Audio
Radio Archives
“The best of old-time radio.” Radio Archives is dedicated to bringing back the most loved and most entertaining radio programs that used to captivate listeners by the millions, digitally remastered in crystal-clear CD quality. From detective stories, to Lux Radio Theatre, to Orson Welles, to Doc Savage, they’ve got it all.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Radio Archives.
Random House:
Random House is probably one of the largest book and audiobook publishers there is. Their audiobook division includes imprints such as Books On Tape, Listening Library, and Bantam-Doubleday-Dell. You’ll have no trouble finding audiobooks you like at Random House.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Random House
Recorded Books:
Recorded Books is undeniably the leading audiobook publisher, with more than 15,000 audiobooks to choose from. They also have a program where you can rent audiobooks by mail.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Recorded Books
Scholastic Audio:
Scholastic Audio is the audio imprint for Scholastic Books, and caters primarily to younger readers. The audio division of Scholastic does not have its own website, audiobooks are purchased from the same site as the print books.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Scholastic Audio
Simon & Schuster Audio:
Simon & Schuster Audio is the audiobook publishing imprint for, you guessed it, Simon & Schuster. S&S encompasses a lot of smaller imprints, but as far as I can tell, all of the audiobooks go through Simon & Schuster Audio. S&S is a large audiobook publisher with lots of titles for young and old.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Simon & Schuster Audio
Tantor Media:
Tantor Media has been around for 10 years and, according to their website, is publishing 50 new audiobooks every month. And yes, they are named after Tarzan’s elephant friend; Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes was the first audiobook they published.
Visit the home page of audiobook publisher Tantor Media
Time-Warner Audio:
See Hachette Audio.
This list is intended solely as a resource for people like me who love audiobooks. I am not affiliated with any of the audiobook publishers listed here.
Great work!!!
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