Transforming Audiobook Narration and Exploration Through Spoken Technology in Episode 39 of Brave New Bookshelf
In their latest episode of the podcast Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite invite Phil Marshall and Andrew Wallner, co-founders of Spoken Press, to discuss the transformative impact of AI on the audiobook industry. This innovative platform aims to simplify the production and distribution of audiobooks, empowering authors to create, share, and monetize their works through sophisticated AI-driven technology.
Spoken Press was conceived to address the need for streamlined, high-quality methods of creating multi-voice audiobooks. Founded by tech veterans with backgrounds in conversational AI and startup success, the duo recognized the need for better tools for authors and set out to fill that gap.
The platform's AI technology extends beyond narration, incorporating AI in voice synthesis, metadata tagging, and intelligent content discovery. This allows authors to benefit from automatic summaries, categorization, and targeted tags that help optimize their audiobooks' visibility. Moreover, personalized recommendations for users minimize the risk of content getting lost in the crowd.
Distinguishing itself from traditional audiobook plagfomrs, Spoken Press offers an affordable revenue model for authors called the Affinity model. This model reflects actual listening behavior, providing authors with a 50/50 earnings split, a stark contrast to traditional models such as Kindle Unlimited, which often diminish the value authors receive.
Spoken Press fosters a dynamic ecosystem where authors and listeners interact, with the recommendation engine adapting and evolving with every interaction. This continuous improvement enhances content visibility and engagement within the platform.
To begin using Spoken Press, authors simply upload their manuscripts, and the platform's algorithms analyze the narrative structure and character voice requirements. Users then choose or design AI-generated voices, refining delivery with tools like lexicons and the "Speak It" feature before publishing their audiobook.
For early adopters, Spoken Press offers free access during its beta phase, enabling authors to establish visibility and feedback channels before monetization officially begins. Embracing the platform early provides these authors with an edge in shaping the community and maximizing their reach when the platform expands.
Both Phil and Andrew spoke enthusiastically about the internal AI stack supporting Spoken Press, which combines various voice and automation technologies. They also praised ChatGPT's Deep Research capability as a valuable tool for rapidly acquiring topic expertise during the development process.
In summary, Spoken Press leverages AI technology to make audiobook creation accessible, empower authors with intelligent publishing and monetization capabilities, and foster a vibrant community for authors and listeners alike. The Affinity model ensures a fair revenue share, while early adopters benefit from free access during the beta phase, offering them a unique opportunity to shape the future of the platform and maximize their exposure to the audiobook community.
AI is not only revolutionizing the narration of audiobooks on Spoken Press, but it also plays a significant role in voice synthesis, metadata tagging, and intelligent content discovery, enhancing authors' works' visibility and accessibility. This innovative platform's Affinity model, which ensures a fair 50/50 earnings split, sets it apart from traditional audiobook formats, making it an appealing choice for authors in the realms of lifestyle, technology, art, and entertainment, who wish to share their works with a broader audience.
