Audiobooks have come a long way over the years. What began over a century ago as short literary recordings on gramophone records has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry, powered by streaming platforms and now held right in your pocket.
Audiobook production and casting have also transformed alongside the format and distribution shifts. With the rise of self-produced books, new tech, author-narrator collaboration, and an increased number of narrators, the production landscape has also vastly changed over the years.
The history of audiobook narration begins earlier than most people think. In the early 1930s, phonograph records were used to record literature for the visually impaired. Due to technological constraints, these recordings were limited to short-form works.
This era started what we know as audiobooks today and established the foundation for audiobooks as a meaningful form of storytelling.
By the 1970s and 1980s, audiobooks had migrated to cassette tapes. These portable, durable media made it easier to distribute longer recordings.
In the 1990s, CDs replaced cassettes, offering improved sound quality and easier navigation. Publishers began investing in professional narrators, laying the groundwork for audiobook narration as a performance art.
More narrators received direction, scripts became more polished, and a true market for consumer audiobook entertainment began to form.
The early 2000s revolutionized listening to audio files with the popularization of MP3s, which made audiobooks more accessible than ever.
The digital format meant longer runtimes and more nuanced performances. The format also allowed listeners to enjoy audiobooks on the go.
It also introduced the concept of binge listening, a behavior that would later influence the industry for listeners, narrators, and publishers.
As the audiobook audience grew, so did audience expectations. Modern listeners crave immersive, dynamic narration that matches the tone and spirit of the book.
Narrators are actors and often train in performing, dialects, and breath work. Many narrators even go on to become directors and producers.
Platforms like Audible, Spotify, Apple Books, and Libro.fm have transformed how audiences consume audiobooks. Books are on-demand and are being binged at an unprecedented rate.
Narrators and publishers are under pressure to deliver high-volume output without compromising quality.
The rise of self-publishing and platforms like ACX, Findaway Voices, and Authors Republic has empowered indie authors to produce and distribute audiobooks.
This means that narrators often wear multiple hats: artist, consultant, and project manager, among others.
Over the past few years, the number of audiobook narrators entering the field has increased. The pandemic opened the door to more remote work, the SAG-AFTRA strike pushed more actors toward voiceover, and online "get-rich-quick" videos painted audiobook narration as an easy entry point.
While it's exciting to hear new voices in the space, the volume of talent has made casting far more competitive than it was even a decade ago. Auditions have become the norm. Other shifts include:
With thousands of narrators vying for roles, building relationships, and showing professionalism at every step matters just as much as voice quality.
Casting has also shifted toward authentic representation. This is a much-needed step for the industry, opening doors for underrepresented voices and honoring characters and authors' cultural and lived experiences.
The industry is still growing in this area, but the push for authenticity is improving audiobook casting.
For years, audiobooks were recorded in professional studios with engineers and directors on-site. However, home studios are now standard, even for narrators working with major publishers.
This started to shift prior to 2020, but during the pandemic, this became a necessity, allowing books to be safely produced, and has become the norm.
What made this possible:
This shift allows narrators to work globally, on their schedule, and at a lower cost, which is especially useful for indie work.
With rising expectations and faster turnaround times, audiobook professionals are turning to innovative tools to optimize production. New tools like Pozotron have changed the workflow of independent narrators and publishers.
Pozotron is used by many for:
Pozotron supports narration's artistry by making the technical side of production faster, easier, and more accurate.
Audiobook narration has evolved from phonograph recordings for accessibility to high-performance storytelling streamed globally. What started as a practical medium is now a rich and creative space where voice talent, production teams, and technology work together to deliver unforgettable listening experiences.
At Pozotron, we're proud to be part of this journey, supporting narrators, editors, and publishers and keeping pace with the evolving demands of this robust industry.