The audiobook market is currently held back by availability and cost of titles, as well as preference for narrators with different voices. The subscription model and AI voice narration will solve these issues — but we need audio rights licensing reform to make it happen. In this solo show: * Streaming and subscription models * AI voices will narrate mass-market audio content with human narrators producing artisan audio experiences * Audio licensing will expand for different levels of listener experience * Authors and publishers will sell directly from their own platforms to superfans who want to support creators This is the second in my AI episodes based on my new book, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Virtual Worlds: The Impact of Converging Technologies On Authors and the Publishing Industry. Check out previous episodes and resources on AI at www.TheCreativePenn.com/future The written word is still the primary focus for authors and publishing, but in the last few years, there has been significant growth in audiobook revenue and the use of podcasting for book marketing. A Deloitte paper on audiobooks and podcasting, of-audiobooks-podcast-industry.html">The Ears Have It, noted that, “at current growth rates, audiobook revenues are on a trajectory to pass e-books by 2023 or so”. It’s an exciting time to be in audio, and there are some societal trends and technological shifts that will grow the market and expand possibilities even further. Streaming and subscription models “Possession is not as important as it once was. Accessing is more important than ever.” Kevin Kelly, The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future The subscription model for content is great value for consumers. They can watch unlimited movies and TV on Netflix and listen to unlimited music on Spotify, both of which are tailored to individual preferences. They can read on Kindle Unlimited, and there are many more examples of this kind of subscription. It is a mainstream business model and already an option for audio in many markets with Storytel, Scribd and others, even though it has yet to pervade the significant audiobook markets of the US and UK. It will only expand in the years to come. Publishing has slowly followed the trajectory of the music industry in terms of digital transformation. TechCrunch reported in September 2020 that revenue for recorded music has increased during 2020 owing to the growth in streaming under the pandemic. Paid subscriptions like Spotify and Apple Music are up 24% year-on-year, and “streaming now makes up 85% of all [music] revenue in the U.S.,” with physical sales at 7% and digital downloads at 6%. The 2020s will bring many more technological options as listeners continue to embrace unlimited subscription models. They can try more varied audio with no risk, and they’re more likely to try it on a platform where they already listen to music and podcasts. Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, wrote on their company blog in Februa...