RBmedia
RBmedia is the world's largest audiobook publisher, operating 13 brands with 100,000+ titles distributed across 50+ digital platforms. It serves authors, publishers, libraries, and end consumers globally from offices in the US, Germany, UK, Australia, France, and Spain.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersHanover, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RBmedia does
RBmedia is the world's largest audiobook publisher, operating 13 distinct publishing brands across the audiobook and audio entertainment market. Headquartered in Landover, Maryland, and operating internationally with offices in Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Spain, the company maintains a catalog of more than 100,000 titles and releases over 9,000 new audiobooks annually. Founded in 1979 as Recorded Books, the company has built a 45-year content library through a combination of organic production and more than nine acquisitions since 2017, including GraphicAudio (2020), Author's Republic (2021), Éditions Thélème (2022), John Verlag (2022), and Dreamscape (2024).
The company's core technology and operational capabilities center on audiobook production, rights management, and multi-platform digital distribution. Through the Author's Republic aggregator and direct relationships, RBmedia ingests content from thousands of authors and publishers and distributes it to more than 50 digital platforms, including Audible, Spotify, Apple, and library networks served via its Potomac Talking Book Services unit. The 13-brand portfolio spans traditional single-narrator audiobooks (Recorded Books, Gildan Media, Tantor) and premium full-cast entertainment audio (GraphicAudio), enabling the company to serve multiple price tiers and consumer segments. Notable commercial traction includes 126 New York Times bestsellers credited in 2025 and a 2025 partnership with W.W. Norton.
RBmedia generates revenue through a combination of audiobook sales, licensing fees, library subscriptions, and rights-holder royalty economics. Rights are acquired from authors and publishers, content is produced in-house or via distributed narrator networks, and finished audio is monetized across consumer subscription platforms, library systems, and direct-to-consumer channels. Since 2023 the company has been owned by private equity firms H.I.G. Capital and Francisco Partners, who are executing an active consolidation strategy in the audiobook category.
RBmedia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RBmedia
- Legal name
- Recorded Books, Inc.
- Website
- https://rbmediaglobal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- RBmedia is the world's largest audiobook publisher, operating 13 brands with 100,000+ titles distributed across 50+ digital platforms. It serves authors, publishers, libraries, and end consumers globally from offices in the US, Germany, UK, Australia, France, and Spain.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RBmedia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Audiobook Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audiobook Publishers (Trade & Consumer) (MPAJAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audiobook Production & Studios (Narration, Recording, Editing, Mastering) (MPAJAIAB), Audiobook Distribution & Aggregation (To Retailers/Libraries) (MPAJAIAC), Library & Education Audiobook Distribution (Public Libraries, Schools, Academic) (MPAJAIAE), Audiobook Rights & Licensing (Territorial/Format Rights, Agencies) (MPAJAIAG), Exclusive/Original Audio Content Studios (Audio Originals, Serialized Audio) (MPAJAIAF)
Keywords
Where RBmedia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hanover
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
RBmedia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Audiobook Publishing and Sales: RBmedia publishes audiobooks for bestselling authors and distributes to retail and library platforms. Revenue comes from audiobook sales through major digital retailers and library licensing. Authors receive royalties while RBmedia retains publishing rights and manages global distribution.
- Author/Agent Partnerships: RBmedia acquires audiobook rights from authors and agents, producing and distributing their content. The company monetizes these rights across all global platforms, with authors receiving royalty payments based on sales performance.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
RBmedia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RBmedia is the world's largest audiobook publisher, acquiring rights from authors and literary agents, producing audiobooks using a network of 500+ voice actors, and distributing titles globally through 50+ digital retail and library platforms. The company operates 13 publishing brands spanning English, Spanish, French, and German language markets, publishing over 9,000 new audiobooks annually across all major fiction and nonfiction genres. Revenue is generated through licensing and royalty agreements with retail platforms (Audible, Spotify, Apple) and library/school systems (OverDrive, Hoopla), with authors receiving royalty payments based on sales performance.
Product overview
RBmedia is a comprehensive audiobook publishing and distribution platform operating as the world's largest audiobook publisher with over 100,000 titles and 13 publishing brands. The core platform unifies production, global distribution, and monetization across a multi-brand portfolio: Recorded Books (flagship flagship imprint for bestsellers), Tantor Media (emerging and independent authors), Dreamscape (acquired 2024; fiction/nonfiction across mystery, romance, children's), HighBridge (prestige spoken-word), Christian Audio (faith-based), Ascent Audio (business/professional development), GraphicAudio (full-cast dramatizations), Kalorama Audio (politics/policy), W. F. Howes Ltd (UK market), WaveSound (Australia), BookaVivo (Spanish-language), Éditions Thélème (French-language; acquired 2022), and RBmedia Verlag (German-language; includes John Verlag acquired 2022). All brands share a unified distribution network reaching 50+ digital retail and library platforms globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Recorded Books: Flagship audio brand for bestselling authors and content spanning all high-demand fiction and nonfiction genres
- Tantor Media
- Dreamscape
- HighBridge
- Christian Audio
- Ascent Audio
- GraphicAudio
- Kalorama Audio
- W. F. Howes Ltd
- WaveSound
- BookaVivo
- Éditions Thélème
- RBmedia Verlag
Products and services
- RBmedia Audiobook Publishing The world's largest audiobook publisher, publishing over 9,000 new titles annually across 13 publishing brands and distributing through 50+ digital retail and library platforms globally. Authors and literary agents contract with RBmedia to produce and distribute audiobooks worldwide.
- Recorded Books RBmedia's flagship audio brand for bestselling authors and content spanning all high-demand fiction and nonfiction genres, featuring works by authors including Sarah J. Maas, Danielle Steel, Brandon Sanderson, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Jeff Kinney.
- Tantor Media Industry-leading audiobook publisher for both traditionally published and independent authors, recognized for discovering breakout authors such as Drew Hayes, Dannika Dark, and Scarlett St. Clair in science fiction, fantasy, and romance.
- Dreamscape Media Award-winning publisher of fiction and non-fiction audiobooks with a catalog of over 7,000 titles and nearly 1,000 new titles released annually across mystery/thriller, romance, and children's audiobooks.
- HighBridge Audio Leading spoken-word audio publisher founded by Minnesota Public Radio, specializing in New York Times bestsellers, up-market mysteries, topical nonfiction, classics, and award-winning titles including Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, and Booker Prize finalists and winners.
- Christian Audio The leading audio publisher in the Christian market, offering audio Bibles, devotionals, personal growth, and inspirational content. Holds exclusive content partnerships with Baker Publishing Group, InterVarsity Press, Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing, and Augsburg Fortress.
- Ascent Audio The world's largest publisher of business audiobooks, offering professional development, coaching, management, entrepreneurship, leadership, investing, and finance titles. Partners with McGraw Hill Professional, Harvard Business Review Press, Princeton University Press, Wiley, Oxford University Press, Mango Publishing Group, and Entrepreneur Press. Features authors such as Jon Gordon, Grant Cardone, and Brian Tracy.
- GraphicAudio Leader in immersive dramatized audio, developer of the "A Movie in Your Mind" audiobook entertainment format. Home to the largest catalog of full-cast dramatizations featuring cinematic music and sound effects, with partnerships including Marvel, Dark Horse Comics, and Dynamite Comics.
- Kalorama Audio Leading publisher of politics and policy audiobooks, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Partners with journalists, authors, and commentators writing about politics, policy initiatives, and public discourse, featuring works by Pete Buttigieg, Max Boot, and Barry Goldwater.
- W. F. Howes Ltd The UK's leading audiobook publisher, established for over 25 years. Publishes under imprints including W. F. Howes, Quest, Ukemi Audiobooks, and Dharma Audiobooks, and distributes through all leading UK consumer and library vendors. Features authors including Diana Gabaldon, Val McDermid, and Jojo Moyes.
- WaveSound One of Australia's leading audiobook publishers, publishing some of Australia's bestselling audiobooks in partnership with Australian authors including Garry Disher, Chris Hammer, and Fleur McDonald, distributed through all leading consumer and library vendors.
- BookaVivo RBmedia's Spanish-language audiobook publishing brand, publishing global bestsellers, self-help, romance/audionovelas, business, and religion in Spanish. Features Spanish-language editions of RBmedia's bestselling authors including Holly Black, Rebecca Yarros, and Neal Shusterman.
- Éditions Thélème Leading publisher of French-language audiobooks specializing in classic and contemporary literature. Founded in 1990, publishes titles including works by Marcel Proust, Victor Hugo, Jane Austen, and Alexandre Dumas.
- RBmedia Verlag RBmedia's German-language audiobook publishing brand, publishing under sub-brands ABOD (business and politics nonfiction), Hörbuch München (fiction), and John Verlag (sachbuch/societal topics). Features authors including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vince Flynn, and Elton John.
Quantifiable outcome
- 126 New York Times bestsellers published in 2025 alone
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use RBmedia
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RBmedia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
RBmedia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, acquisition and major.
- W. W. Norton & CompanycoreRBmedia and W.W. Norton & Company announced an exclusive audiobook partnership expanding their existing collaboration to distribute Norton's titles to audio worldwide. The partnership builds on years of previous cooperation including award-winning titles and upcoming releases.
- Dreamscape MediaacquisitionRBmedia agreed to acquire Dreamscape Media, an independent audiobook publisher with over 7,000 titles and presence in over 60 countries. Deal expected to close in Q3 2024. Dreamscape publishes fiction, non-fiction, mystery/thriller, romance, and children's audiobooks.
- John VerlagacquisitionRBmedia acquired John Verlag's German-language audiobook catalog, expanding RBmedia's presence in the German market as part of its international growth strategy.
- Éditions ThélèmeacquisitionRBmedia acquired Éditions Thélème, marking its first expansion into the French-language audiobook market. Éditions Thélème specializes in classic and contemporary literature.
- Upfront BooksacquisitionRBmedia acquired Upfront Books' audiobook publishing business and catalog, enhancing its global distribution network as part of its growth strategy.
- Blackstone PublishingcoreAs of October 1, 2020, Blackstone Publishing manufactures, sells, and distributes audiobook CDs published by Recorded Books. Libraries can order CDs and replacements through Blackstone.
- AudiblecoreRBmedia distributes audiobooks through Audible, with 16 titles selected for Audible's Best of 2025 and 18 titles named Audible's Biggest Audiobooks of Spring 2026.
- SpotifycoreRBmedia distributes audiobooks through Spotify. Sarah J. Maas' 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' named Spotify's most streamed audiobook of all time; RBmedia has 7 of top 10 most streamed audiobooks on Spotify.
- McGraw Hill ProfessionalmajorRBmedia has audiobook partnerships with McGraw Hill Professional for business titles distributed through Ascent Audio brand.
- Harvard Business Review PressmajorRBmedia partners with Harvard Business Review Press for business audiobook titles distributed through Ascent Audio brand.
- Princeton University PressmajorRBmedia partners with Princeton University Press for business audiobook titles distributed through Ascent Audio brand.
- WileymajorRBmedia partners with Wiley for business audiobook titles distributed through Ascent Audio brand.
- Oxford University PressmajorRBmedia partners with Oxford University Press for business audiobook titles distributed through Ascent Audio brand.
- Mango Publishing GroupmajorRBmedia partners with Mango Publishing Group for business audiobook titles distributed through Ascent Audio brand.
- Entrepreneur PressmajorRBmedia partners with Entrepreneur Press for business audiobook titles distributed through Ascent Audio brand.
- Baker Publishing GroupmajorChristian Audio has exclusive content partnership with Baker Publishing Group for faith-based audiobook content.
- InterVarsity PressmajorChristian Audio has exclusive content partnership with InterVarsity Press for faith-based audiobook content.
- Presbyterian & Reformed PublishingmajorChristian Audio has exclusive content partnership with Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing for faith-based audiobook content.
- Augsburg FortressmajorChristian Audio has exclusive content partnership with Augsburg Fortress for faith-based audiobook content.
- OverDrivecoreRBmedia distributes through OverDrive, the leading library digital content platform. OverDrive acquired the RBdigital platform in 2020.
- HooplacoreRBmedia distributes through Hoopla, a major library digital content platform reaching tens of thousands of libraries worldwide.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RBmedia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Storytel: Subscription-based audiobook and ebook streaming service dominant in Nordic and European markets. Comparable in publishing and distributing audiobooks at scale, but primarily a subscription-first retailer rather than a trade publisher; overlaps with RBmedia in Europe as both a partner and a competitor.
Direct peers
- Macmillan Audio: Audiobook imprint of Macmillan Publishers, one of the Big 5. Comparable in producing premium audiobooks with celebrity narrators and distributing across all major retail and library platforms.
- Hachette Audio: Audiobook division of Hachette Book Group. Comparable Big 5 audiobook publisher producing content across all major genres with global retail and library distribution.
- Simon & Schuster Audio: Audiobook imprint of Simon & Schuster. Directly comparable in producing and distributing audiobooks for bestselling authors across genres; competes with RBmedia for both author rights and retail/library shelf space.
- Blackstone Publishing: Independent audiobook publisher and RBmedia's physical CD distribution partner for libraries. Closest independent direct competitor in scale, multi-genre catalog, and library channel strength.
- HarperAudio (HarperCollins Publishers): Audiobook arm of HarperCollins, one of the Big 5 publishers. Competes directly with RBmedia for bestselling author signings and has a similar multi-genre catalog spanning fiction, nonfiction, and business titles.
- Penguin Random House Audio: Audiobook imprint of the world's largest trade publisher. Directly comparable to RBmedia in scale, bestselling author relationships, and breadth of catalog across genres; a key source of rights from which RBmedia also competes for audiobook distribution.
Emerging players
- Podium Audio: Fast-growing independent audiobook publisher specializing in genre fiction (romance, fantasy, sci-fi). Comparable in production model and digital-first distribution; an emerging direct competitor in indie and self-published author segments where Tantor and Dreamscape also compete.
Broad incumbents
- Audible (Amazon): Largest audiobook retailer globally and a major RBmedia distribution partner, but also operates its own audiobook content studios (Audible Originals) producing exclusive titles. Overlaps with RBmedia as both a customer and a competitor in audio content creation.
- Spotify: Global audio streaming platform that has aggressively expanded into audiobooks. RBmedia is one of Spotify's largest audiobook content partners (7 of top 10 most-streamed ever on Spotify). Spotify is both a critical distribution channel and an emerging competitor investing in exclusive audio content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses6 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
RBmedia social profiles
Digital presenceRBmedia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RBmedia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
RBmedia subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
RBmedia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RBmedia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A13 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RBmedia
What does RBmedia do?
RBmedia is the world's largest audiobook publisher, acquiring rights from authors and literary agents, producing audiobooks using a network of 500+ voice actors, and distributing titles globally through 50+ digital retail and library platforms. The company operates 13 publishing brands spanning English, Spanish, French, and German language markets, publishing over 9,000 new audiobooks annually across all major fiction and nonfiction genres. Revenue is generated through licensing and royalty agreements with retail platforms (Audible, Spotify, Apple) and library/school systems (OverDrive, Hoopla), with authors receiving royalty payments based on sales performance.
Is RBmedia a public or private company?
RBmedia is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was RBmedia founded?
RBmedia was founded in 1979. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is RBmedia based?
RBmedia is headquartered in Hanover, United States, in the North America region.
How does RBmedia make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Audiobook Publishing and Sales are the primary driver. The others are author/Agent Partnerships.
Who are RBmedia's main competitors?
Storytel is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Macmillan Audio, Hachette Audio, Simon & Schuster Audio, Blackstone Publishing, HarperAudio (HarperCollins Publishers) and Penguin Random House Audio. Podium Audio is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Audible (Amazon) and Spotify.
Does RBmedia have an API?
No public API is recorded for RBmedia.
What industry is RBmedia in?
RBmedia's product category is Audiobook Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAIAA, Audiobook Publishers (Trade & Consumer), with a secondary code of MPAJAIAB, Audiobook Production & Studios (Narration, Recording, Editing, Mastering). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.