BBC Audiobooks America Acquires Audio Partners Publishing Corp.

by Shannon Maughan, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 4/19/2007

On the heels of announcing its trade retail initiative last week, BBC Audiobooks America has acquired the audiobook publishing assets of Audio Partners Publishing Corporation, based in Auburn, Calif. The deal will provide BBC Audiobooks America with more than 400 titles, including such revered classics as Pride and Prejudice and Brave New World; the 38-title boxed set The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare; and the works of mystery authors Rex Stout and Agatha Christie. Audio Partners had been the exclusive publisher in the U.S. and Canada of all unabridged Christie audiobook titles, and BBC will take over that licensing agreement.

Effective immediately, BBC Audiobooks America will offer the newly acquired Audio Partners Publishing Corp. properties to the trade via Perseus Distribution.

Audio Partners Publishing Corporation, formed in 1987 by husband-and-wife team Grady Hesters and Linda Olsen, has long been known for its formidable line of British spoken-word productions, many of which had been licensed from BBC Audiobooks America. Hesters commented in a statement: "It seems fitting and natural to place our valued title list with BBC Audiobooks America as it launches its major new trade audiobook program."

Hesters noted that he and Olsen will now focus on the other division of their company, Audio Partners Inc., which encompasses the Audio Editions audiobook direct-mail, catalogue and Internet sales.