Are you an author who has written a book and want to publish it as an audiobook?
Do you need some help with finding audiobook publishers?
This post is just for you.
Continue reading to learn about 19 top audiobook publishing companies.
1. New Village Press
New Village Press differentiates itself from other audiobook publishers based in New York City, New York, with its focus on public living, fostering communities, and developing culture & society in cities. Founded in 2005, the publisher encourages everyone from artists and academicians to urban planners and private citizens to work together and reinvigorate urban life.
Apart from city living, New Village Press also has titles about social justice and women’s living. Some of its most impressive audiobooks include Carl C. Anthony’s The Earth, the City, and the Hidden Narrative of Race and Nadina LaSpina’s Such a Pretty Girl.
You should check the submissions page if you want to send a prospectus. Likewise, head to the contact page for queries on audiobooks and other related matters.
2. Macmillan Audio
Easily one of the most established publishers in the world, the New York City-based Macmillan has an ever-growing audiobook selection. This is a valuable addition to its literary legacy, which began back in 1843 when Daniel and Alexander Macmillan formed their business.
Macmillan Audio selects titles for audiobook production from publishers under Macmillan. These include St. Martin’s Press and Tor/Forge, the latter known for its sci-fi and fantasy books. Speaking of fantasy, one such audiobook from Macmillan is Robert Jordan’s acclaimed The Eye of the World. Another solid listen is Kristin Hannah’s best-selling The Four Winds, with Julia Whelan narrating.
Currently, Macmillan Audio isn’t open to unsolicited submissions. You can read the FAQ page for more details or the contact page for other concerns.
3. Novel Audio
Audiobook fans in Burlington, Ontario, Canada can always rely on Novel Audio to deliver. Launched in 2012, the company loves meaningful stories whether in fiction or nonfiction — and they have books in children’s literature too. So if you have a fantastic story to tell, Novel Audio will adapt it into audio form no matter how challenging.
Novel Audio titles have an international distribution network to ensure a massive audience. Thus, books like A. J. Waines’s thriller Enemy at the Window and Peter Wohlleben’s amazing The Inner Life of Animals are accessible to readers in the US and India alike.
If you have a published book that has massive potential as an audiobook, message Novel Audio. Head to the submission page for more information.
4. Grand Central Publishing
Originally known as Warner Books, Grand Central Publishing came into fruition in 1970. Its books cater to various reader segments through diverse imprints like GCP Balance and Twelve. Grand Central Publishing itself is part of the colossal Hachette Book Group (HBG), which is located in New York City, New York.
Audiobooks of best-selling thriller author James Patterson’s The River Murders and Nicholas Spark’s The Wish are part of its growing digital catalog.
Similar to Macmillan Audio, Grand Central Publishing picks titles for audiobook production from books under HBG. The imprint doesn’t accept unsolicited manuscripts nor is it looking for unsolicited proposals from audiobook readers. Check the FAQ section and the author portal to know more.
5. Naxos AudioBooks
Klaus Heymann and Nicolas Soames established this publishing company in 1994 to make classic titles readily available on recording devices. Since then, Naxos AudioBooks from Redhill, Surrey, England made a name for its impeccable narration and use of classic music — truly creating an immersive experience.
Naxos AudioBooks loves not only classic fiction but also Shakespearean drama, poetry, classic YA fiction, contemporary fiction, and nonfiction topics such as philosophy, history, and art. Margery Allingham’s The Oaken Heart and Émile Zola’s The Ladies’ Paradise are just two of its latest releases.
Whether you’re in the UK or North America, Naxos AudioBooks has respective emails you can contact.
6. HarperCollins
James and John Harper formed J. and J. Harper more than two centuries ago. And since its inception in 2017, the publisher is now known around the world as HarperCollins. Its main office is in New York City, New York, and it has divisions everywhere from Denmark to Japan.
Currently, it has more than 1,500 titles across fiction and nonfiction in its audiobook catalog. Listeners are particularly fond of Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller—narrated by the rockstar musician himself—and Ann Patchett’s These Precious Days.
HarperCollins doesn’t accept unsolicited queries and manuscripts. However, the Avon Impulse and Heartdrum imprints for romance titles and Native children’s literature, respectively, have their own guidelines.
7. Recorded Books
Led by CEO Tom MacIsaac and CFO Michael Bauer, Recorded Books is the principal audiobook brand of RBmedia. It boasts a multitude of best-selling fiction and nonfiction titles from established authors. Plus, this publisher in Landover, Maryland, works with both general audiobook retailers and library platforms.
If you’ve listened to the engrossing audiobook versions of Mark Lawrence’s action fantasy Emperor of Thorns and Pierce Brown’s dystopian Red Rising, you already know about the high-quality production of Recorded Books.
Authors and narrators alike interested in working with Recorded Books can get their email information on the contact page.
8. Simon & Schuster
Headquartered in New York City, New York, Simon & Schuster came into fruition in 1924 with the help of Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. Today, the company owns distinct and established imprints like Tiller Press and Atria Books to publish fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature.
From the unabridged version of Laura Dave’s chart-topping suspense novel The Last Thing He Told Me to S. C. Gynne’s Native American biography Empire of the Sun Moon, Simon & Schuster is a dominant name in the audiobook industry.
Unfortunately, Simon & Schuster is not currently looking for unsolicited manuscripts. In other words, you need a literary agent to recommend your work.
9. Audible
Arguably the most popular name in the podcast and audiobook industry, Audible has been around since 1995. Don Katz established the company to make books more portable than ever before — and Audible expanded beyond the US market in as early as 2004 with the formation of Audible Germany. Currently, the publisher is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.
Audible Originals aims to offer fresh stories from new and veteran writers alike. Thus, it includes Lily Chu’s contemporary romance novel The Stand-In and Jonathan Salem Baskin’s sci-fi wonder Strange in Place.
The company is searching for unsolicited manuscripts and proposals to further develop the Audible Originals catalog. If you have suggestions, you can find all the contact details on the official website.
10. Oasis Audio
Founded in 1999, Oasis Audio started its business with audiobooks that inspired and helped individuals become better versions of themselves. Since then, this company from Carol Stream, Illinois, has released Christian fiction & nonfiction, children’s literature, and books about business and health.
Oasis Audio is the home of audiobook hits from 2021 such as Clive Irving’s historical biography The Last Queen and James R. Hannibal’s YA fantasy Wolf Soldier, which is the first book in the Lightraider Academy series.
The FAQ page has no direct details about the publisher’s submission guidelines. However, Oasis Audio did respond to a query about audiobook publishing, saying that writers should work with an agent to increase their chances of getting published. You may send your queries via phone, email, or even snail mail and fax.
11. The Good Book
Similar to Oasis Audio, The Good Book is a great source of Christian audiobooks that’s been around since 1991. President and CCO James Burstow manages the company, which has offices in not only Charlotte, North Carolina, but also in Australia and the UK.
The Good Book catalog contains Matt Chandler’s Joy in the Sorrow, which explores faith, pain, and joy. Listeners also like Sinclair B. Ferguson’s To Seek and to Save, which is a valuable collection of devotions made for Lent.
As of writing, this publisher is open to unsolicited manuscript submissions. Interested authors should carefully read the details to properly assess whether their work fits The Good Book or not. In particular, your project should appeal to general readers of the Christian faith.
12. Brilliance Publishing
Brilliance Publishing is a division of Amazon Publishing focused on audiobooks. Located in Grand Haven, Michigan, it already has thousands of audiobooks in its catalog. Furthermore, the categories range from faith-based fiction and literary criticism to current affairs, paranormal romance, business management.
In 2021, Brilliance Publishing launched Rachel Howzell Hall’s thriller novel These Toxic Things. Similarly, fans of Brad Parks praised the narration of Unthinkable. But apart from unrelenting thrillers, you’ll also discover literary fiction, women’s fiction, business books, biographies, and children’s literature.
Literary agents and authors interested in working with Brilliance Publishing can conveniently email the publisher.
13. Podium
Podium is renowned for its abundant collection of romance, sci-fi, and fantasy titles — but it also now has thrillers, mysteries, and even nonfiction topics categories like business and self-help. Situated in Los Angeles, California, it currently has more than 3,000 books and boasts several awards for book narration.
Aiden Snow and Johanna Fairview ensured that Juliette Cross’s Witches Get Stitches remained stunning in audiobook form. Similarly, Donna Postel gave an excellent performance reading Lina Zeldovich’s The Other Dark Matter, a non-fiction title that sought the sustainable and financial value of human waste.
Podium works with both literary agents and authors, but it doesn’t accept unpublished manuscripts, especially if they’re unagented. On the bright side, the company loves authors who managed to send their work to a publishing platform on their own.
Visit the About page and scroll down until you see the “Work with Podium” section. Click on “I’m an author” so that you can submit an inquiry.
14. Blackstone Publishing
Craig and Michelle Black established Blackstone Publishing way back in 1987. It had a humble beginning: The team was composed of relatives and a few employees who patiently worked on cassette tapes. More than 30 years later, this company from Ashland, Oregon, now has fiction and nonfiction titles available in ebook, audiobook, and print book formats.
Two of the most well-received audiobooks from Blackstone Publishing in 2021 are Elizabeth de Veer’s literary fiction The Ocean in Winter and Kris Lackey’s mystery novel Butcher Pen Road. Both titles were published in their unabridged versions.
Blackstone Publishing is not keen on receiving unsolicited submissions and proposals for audiobooks at the moment. Authors are advised to find reputable literary agents to recommend their writing.
15. Dreamscape Media
Located in Holland, Ohio, Dreamscape Media is a laudable business that not only serves general readers but also partners with libraries. Through its digital platform for libraries, its entertaining, informative, and acclaimed audiobooks reach millions more people.
From Christelle Dabos’s epic sci-fi The Storm of Echoes to Paige Shelton’s detective mystery novel Dark Night, Dreamscape Media has a diverse audiobook catalog. Apart from these titles, you’ll find books in categories such as politics, poetry, memoirs, Christian non-fiction, horror, and YA fiction.
Dreamscape Media only has a submission form for interested audiobook readers. If you want to send a query about audiobook publishing, you can submit an online form instead.
16. Harlequin
Richard H. G. Bonnycastle formed Harlequin in 1948. However, it was his wife, Mary, who reshaped its identity and helped it become synonymous with excellent romance titles for women around the world. Since then, this company from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has offered wide-ranging fiction and nonfiction not just for women but for everyone else, especially those who need better representation in literature.
Harlequin never settles when it comes to compelling stories from diverse authors for equally diverse readers. For one, the publisher released Elysia Whisler’s family life novel Forever Home last December. This was also the same time that Heather Hansman’s sports autobiography Powder Days went on sale.
Some of the Harlequin imprints are only open to agented submissions. In general, the publisher is more than willing to accept proposals from both literary agents and unagented writers. Check the information here to know more about writing for the company.
17. Upfront Books
Upfront Books publishes titles that are timeless yet meaningful in the everyday context of individuals. Similarly, the New York City-based company is a pioneer in delivering technical reads to the world of audiobooks. In other words, Upfront Books is always searching for books that inspire and enlighten.
One of its bestsellers is John O’Sullivan’s sports psychology audiobook titled Every Moment Matters. The book is an illuminating read as it gathers the insights of veteran coaches, athletes, and researchers in the field of sports. You should also consider listening to Chris Fox’s Launch to Market to learn about business writing.
Upfront Books accepts agented and unsolicited submissions. All you have to do is to email them with a link to your book.
18. W. F. Howes Ltd
Henry Trentman established W. F. Howes Ltd in 1998. However, its origins date back to 1979 when the aforementioned founder first made a complete audio recording of a book with the help of Frank Muller. The company is currently based in Rearsby, Leicester, England, and recorded its 10,000th audiobook in 2010.
Early this year, W.F. Howes Ltd published stellar titles in fiction and nonfiction. Listeners couldn’t get enough of Ayesha S. Chaudry’s biography The Colour of God — and the same can be said for Emma Chichester Clark’s fantasy novel Polly Pecorino.
If you’re interested in working with them, authors can send their queries about publishing audiobooks with W. F. Howes Ltd via form submissions online.
19. University Press Audiobooks
Margy and Lawrence Bauman own and manage Redwood Audiobooks, which is where University Press Audiobooks belongs. This particular imprint resides in Mendocino, California, and its audiobooks have received awards such as the Ambitious Literary Project Award and the Academic Matters Award.
University Press Audiobooks has more than 2,000 riveting titles that span from science and politics to short stories, Christian studies, and war fiction. Juliett Clutton-Brock’s Animals as Domesticates and P. W. Singer’s Corporate Warriors are just two of its award-winning audiobooks.
The publisher has provided a contact form should you wish to pursue audiobook publishing with them.
Some More Top Audiobook Publishing Companies
20. Tantor Media
In 2000, Tantor Media was established in California with only three people in the company. Since then, it has moved to Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and develops over 100 fresh audiobooks each month. Likewise, its books have won awards for both the stories within them and their high-quality narration.
In particular, one of the widely celebrated books from Tantor Media is Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass. It’s a best-selling essay collection on botany and ecology that’s been heralded as one of the best of the 2010s. Consequently, the publisher released Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch for young readers seeking mystery stories.
Do you want them to publish your audiobook? You can ask your literary agent to contact Tantor Media online.
21. Penguin Random House Audio
Easily one of the biggest publishers in New York City, New York, Penguin Random House Audio has the prestige and the resources to develop the written works of big names like Rick Riordan and George R. R. Martin into flawless audiobooks. In fact, some of its works are recipients of Audie Awards and Grammy Awards.
Given its rich history, Penguin Random House Audio is brimming with acclaimed and best-selling titles. These include recent releases such as Toni Jensen’s powerful memoir Carry and Ken Follett’s enchanting historical fiction The Evening and the Morning.
As of writing, Penguin Random House Audio is only looking for agented submissions. Head to the FAQ section for more details about agent resources — or go to the contact page for queries and feedback.
Do you know of any other audiobook publishing companies that should be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.