Tantor Media
Tantor Media is an independent audiobook publisher operating as an audio brand under RBmedia, producing high-quality audiobooks for traditionally published and independent authors in genres including science fiction, fantasy, and romance. It distributes through all major digital retailers and library platforms globally, reaching millions of listeners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersOld Saybrook, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Tantor Media does
Tantor Media is a US-based independent audiobook publisher founded in 2000, operating as an audio brand under RBmedia, the world's largest audiobook publisher with over 100,000 titles across its portfolio. The company specializes in producing audiobooks for both traditionally published authors and independent authors, with a particular reputation for discovering emerging voices in science fiction, fantasy, and romance genres. Its catalog includes winners of the Man Booker Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award, alongside New York Times bestsellers and titles with starred reviews from major publications. In April 2026, Tantor published the audiobook of 'Hurricane Lessons' by Katrina Anne Willis (Sibylline Press) as part of its ongoing indie-author production pipeline.
Tantor's core technology is described as an audiobook publishing and production platform, with no proprietary AI/ML features or in-house model development documented. Revenue is generated through audiobook licensing and royalty arrangements with authors and rights holders, with all distribution and monetization intermediated by RBmedia's infrastructure rather than Tantor-direct sales. The company's go-to-market motion is channel-partner driven: it has no proprietary consumer app or D2C storefront, and titles reach end listeners exclusively through third-party platforms.
Distribution is the defining operational asset. As an RBmedia audio brand, Tantor's titles are available on all major digital retailers (Audible, Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Storytel, B&N Audiobooks, Everand, Audiobooks.com) and on all major library and school platforms (OverDrive, Hoopla, Bibliotheca, Blackstone, Mackin, Skillsoft, Follett, Odilo, EBSCO). This reach, which spans millions of global listeners, is sourced from RBmedia's portfolio-level distribution network rather than Tantor's own commercial build-out. The company is headquartered in Landover, Maryland (with original founding location listed as Old Saybrook), has 51-100 employees, and is led by founders Kevin Colebank and Laura Colebank alongside broader RBmedia management.
Tantor Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tantor Media
- Legal name
- Tantor Media
- Website
- https://tantor.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Tantor Media is an independent audiobook publisher operating as an audio brand under RBmedia, producing high-quality audiobooks for traditionally published and independent authors in genres including science fiction, fantasy, and romance. It distributes through all major digital retailers and library platforms globally, reaching millions of listeners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tantor Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Audiobook Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audiobook Publishers (Trade & Consumer) (MPAJAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Library & Education Audiobook Distribution (Public Libraries, Schools, Academic) (MPAJAIAE)
Keywords
Where Tantor Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Old Saybrook
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tantor Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Audiobook Publishing and Licensing: Tantor Media publishes audiobooks for traditionally published and independent authors, generating revenue through audiobook licensing and sales across digital retail platforms and library systems worldwide.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Tantor Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tantor Media publishes audiobooks for both traditionally published and independent authors, producing approximately 5,000 unabridged titles distributed globally through major digital retailers and library platforms. As an audio brand of RBmedia, the company specializes in discovering emerging authors and producing must-have titles across genres including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and literary fiction.
Product overview
Tantor Media operates as a sub-brand within the RBmedia portfolio of audiobook publishing companies. RBmedia serves as the parent company and platform, with Tantor Media serving as a dedicated audio brand specializing in audiobook publishing for both emerging and established authors. The structure is a platform-plus-sub-brand architecture, where RBmedia provides the distribution network, infrastructure, and broad catalog management, while Tantor Media focuses specifically on discovering up-and-coming authors and must-have titles in genres including science fiction, fantasy, and romance. Authors published through Tantor benefit from RBmedia's distribution reach across all major digital retailers and library platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tantor Audiobook Publishing Service End-to-end audiobook publishing and production service for traditionally published and independent authors, providing professional recording, production, and global distribution through digital retailers and library platforms.
- Hurricane Lessons Audiobook Individual audiobook title from Tantor Media's catalog, available across major digital retailers and library platforms.
Companies that use Tantor Media
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tantor Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration18 records
Tantor Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- AudiblecoreAudible is a key digital distribution partner for Tantor Media's audiobook catalog. As Amazon's audiobook platform, Audible provides access to millions of audiobook listeners globally. Tantor's titles are available on Audible as part of RBmedia's broad distribution network.
- SpotifycoreSpotify serves as a major audiobook distribution platform for Tantor Media. The partnership expands reach to Spotify's global user base of audiobook listeners.
- Apple BookscoreApple Books is a key distribution partner providing access to Tantor Media's audiobook catalog through the Apple ecosystem.
- Google PlaycoreGoogle Play serves as a digital distribution outlet for Tantor Media's audiobook titles, reaching Android users globally.
- OverDrivecoreOverDrive is a primary library distribution platform for Tantor Media, enabling public libraries to offer digital audiobook lending to patrons.
- HooplacoreHoopla provides library digital lending services for Tantor Media's audiobook catalog, enabling libraries to offer instant access to audiobook titles.
- StorytelcoreStorytel is a global audiobook and e-book subscription platform that distributes Tantor Media's catalog across multiple countries.
- Audiobooks.comcoreAudiobooks.com serves as a dedicated audiobook distribution partner for Tantor Media, providing access to its catalog of audiobook titles.
- RBmediaflagshipRBmedia is the parent company and owner of Tantor Media as an audio brand. RBmedia is the largest audiobook publisher in the world with over 100,000 titles. Tantor operates as part of RBmedia's portfolio of audio brands, benefiting from shared distribution networks, production infrastructure, and marketing capabilities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Tantor Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Recorded Books: Sister RBmedia audio brand publishing unabridged audiobooks through the same distribution network, serving the same libraries and retailers as Tantor. Direct peer by parent, channel, and product.
- Dreamscape Media: Another RBmedia audio imprint producing audiobooks with comparable retail and library distribution. Closely comparable catalog, format, and channel strategy.
- Highbridge Audio: RBmedia-owned audiobook publisher with a similar trade and library audio offering. Directly comparable product and distribution footprint to Tantor.
- GraphicAudio: RBmedia sibling brand focused on full-cast dramatized audiobooks. Sister imprint with shared distribution, comparable audiobook production business.
- Blackstone Audio: Independent audiobook publisher with comparable trade and library distribution including platforms like OverDrive and Hoopla. Direct competitor for author and narrator talent.
- Brilliance Audio: Major independent audiobook publisher with broad retail and library distribution. Comparable catalog scope, format, and customer base in the trade and library channels.
Broad incumbents
- Audible (Amazon): Dominant audiobook retailer and original-content producer; both a critical distribution partner and the largest competitive threat in the audiobook market.
- Penguin Random House Audio: Major publisher-owned audiobook imprint with big-five parent backing and category-leading title flow. Overlaps with Tantor in trade and library channels at scale.
- HarperAudio: Big-five audiobook imprint publishing bestsellers and award-winners with broad retail and library reach. Comparable catalog depth and award-driven positioning.
- Storytel: Global audiobook and e-book subscription platform that is both a Tantor distribution partner and a competing publisher of original audio content in international markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tantor Media social profiles
Digital presenceTantor Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tantor Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Tantor Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tantor Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tantor Media
What does Tantor Media do?
Tantor Media publishes audiobooks for both traditionally published and independent authors, producing approximately 5,000 unabridged titles distributed globally through major digital retailers and library platforms. As an audio brand of RBmedia, the company specializes in discovering emerging authors and producing must-have titles across genres including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and literary fiction.
Is Tantor Media a public or private company?
Tantor Media is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Tantor Media founded?
Tantor Media was founded in 2000. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Tantor Media based?
Tantor Media is headquartered in Old Saybrook, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tantor Media make money?
One revenue line is on record: audiobook Publishing and Licensing.
Who are Tantor Media's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Recorded Books, Dreamscape Media, Highbridge Audio, GraphicAudio, Blackstone Audio and Brilliance Audio. Broad incumbents are Audible (Amazon), Penguin Random House Audio, HarperAudio and Storytel.
Does Tantor Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tantor Media.
What industry is Tantor Media in?
Tantor Media's product category is Audiobook Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAIAA, Audiobook Publishers (Trade & Consumer), with a secondary code of MPAJAIAE, Library & Education Audiobook Distribution (Public Libraries, Schools, Academic). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.