Audio Industry Gets Together for Rights, Talent

Audiobook Month may officially be June, but February is shaping up to be a month of high visibility for both the APA and the audio industry in general.

Following its February 2 benefit to raise money for audiobook narrator Frank Muller, the APA held its first-ever Audiobook Rights Conference February 6 at the Hudson Hotel. Beth Baxter, creator/organizer of the event and publisher of Illinois-based B&B Audio, commented that the conference was "small, calm and very productive. For me as a publisher, it was amazing. In what I would characterize as an 'easy' day, I was able to meet with 12 different people who had rights to sell. I came back with 30 books I'm excited about; usually I have five or so. I feel like I did a whole week's work in one day."

Baxter noted that feedback from the 40 conference participants/attendees, who included publishers and literary agents, was positive and that she is hopeful the APA board will vote to bring the event back next year.

In addition to the Rights Conference, the Hudson Hotel played host on February 7 to the APA's third annual Audiobook Job Market (JAM), an event where a prescreened pool of voice talent has the opportunity to audition for a number of audiobook publishers and producers. Baxter, who founded JAM three years ago and co-organized it this year, noted, "We had record participation on all fronts." She cited 50 voice talents, two producers and one editor as among the participants paying $800 each to be seen by representatives from more than 27 audiobook publishing companies.

Patricia DiBenedetto Snyder, producing artistic director for the NYS Theatre Institute in Troy, N.Y., was a co-organizer of JAM. "We volunteered our services to screen the talent, take care of the administrative things and help coordinate the day," she said. Also a casting director for the Theatre Institute, which records some of its productions as dramatized audiobooks, Snyder noted, "This year's quality of talent was quite good. I saw six people who I'd like to cast in something. It's nice to see the talent is growing out there."

Patrick Lawlor, an actor/voice talent from Los Angeles, offered general praise for the event. "This was my second year at JAM, and so far it's been great for me," he said. "Last year I got five jobs, and that pretty much paid for both trips. It gave me an opportunity to establish contacts with audiobook producers."

APA president Eileen Hutton remarked, "I think both events were well done and well received. I've heard from some rights sellers who were pleased to find the breadth of audio publishing being done in this country." Hutton, v-p and associate publisher for Brilliance Audio, said her company plans to hire some of the talent seen at JAM.

Later this month, audiobook buyers and publishers will meet in Las Vegas, Nev., for the APA's second annual Audiobook Buyers Conference, February 27 March 1.

"These events are wonderful fund-raising opportunities for the APA," Hutton continued. (According to Baxter, the APA added $20,000 to its coffers via JAM and the rights conference.) "They also allow us to further our talent pool and find new ways to make good audio," said Hutton. "With the kind of reception we got from buyers and sellers, word will get around and more people will sign up. We expect these events will only get bigger and better," she added.