The Audio Partners Publishing Corporation, a veteran publisher in the audiobook industry, achieved a net sales increase of 75% from 1996 to 1997. This growth trend continues as sales in 1998 are exceeding 1997 sales by an even higher percentage. Leading the way in 1997 was the very successful introduction of the unabridged reading of To Kill A Mockingbird and the fine titles in the very popular Rex Stout series of unabridged mysteries. In the first half of 1998, the Audio Partners has achieved equal success with unabridged versions of The Killer Angels and Brave New World, and a new series of unabridged English classics, Cover to Cover.

Widely recognized for their excellence, Cover to Cover recordings have received exceptionally favorable reviews in the British press and have won top honors the past three years from the British Spoken Word Association for the Most Outstanding Unabridged Classic. The titles in this line carry the exclusive Royal Warrant from his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, indicating that Cover to Cover may display the Prince's crest on all its product because of the Prince's personal patronage.

"It used to be common wisdom that audiobooks priced over $25 would not sell. Now audiobooks priced up to $40 are selling, as listeners discover that the price per cassette is lower in the unabridged audiobooks, and so consumers get more listening pleasure for their dollar," says Linda Olsen, President and Publisher of The Audio Partners. "This recent consumer trend certainly means we will publish more unabridged titles at lower popular prices. It does not, however, mean we will abandon abridged titles. In fact our bestselling new title is our abridged audiobook, A Night to Remember, read by Martin Jarvis. In addition, our abridgement of The Art of Mingling by Jeanne Martinet keeps pace with frontlist bestsellers year after year.

"We do have a couple of not so secret advantages that give all of our publishing programs a boost. First, because we are a smaller independent company with a low overhead, we can sell at very attractive prices. Second, our sister company, the Audio Editions catalog, provides both a terrific sales outlet and extremely useful data."

Audio Editions Books on Cassette, now in its 13th year, is the most comprehensive, current direct mail catalog available for audiobooks. It offers both abridged and unabridged formats from an active stock of over 4,000 titles supplied by more than 100 publishers. Each year, over 750 select new titles are added in all subject areas, from bestsellers and business to classics and self-help. Audio Editions is mailed to hundreds of thousands of customers approximately every three weeks, providing The Audio Partners with a steady flow of information on consumer trends.

Based in Auburn, CA, The Audio Partners Publishing Corporation and The Audio Partners, Inc. specialize in all aspects of audio publishing from conception to sale. The Audio Partners Publishing Corporation is the publisher of distinguished audiobooks. Published titles are distributed to the trade through Publishers Group West with additional sales and marketing support from Brannigan & Associates. The Audio Partners, Inc. is primarily involved with mail order sales through its catalog, Audio Editions Books on Cassette. In both 1992 and 1994, The Audio Partners, Inc. was named to the Inc. Magazine list 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America, based on its growth history in the preceding five years.

For more information, contact:

Beth Kelley Gillogly
The Audio Partners
(530) 888-7803
beth-k@audioeditions.com
http://www.audiopartners.com/