What John Marshall Media does

John Marshall Media (JMM) is a GRAMMY-winning audiobook and voice production company operating for over 30 years from New York City with additional studios in Atlanta (Decatur) and Mexico City. The company provides end-to-end audiobook production services — casting, directing, recording, editing, proofing, sound design, QC, and distribution — delivered through 12 purpose-built voice recording studios featuring proprietary box-within-a-box acoustic construction, silent airflow systems, and standardized signal chains (Neumann U87, Focusrite preamps, Apogee converters, Universal Audio Apollo). Beyond audiobooks, JMM offers immersive/dramatic full-cast audio production, a proprietary non-exclusive distribution network reaching 100+ retail, library, and educational platforms worldwide, the PubDirect direct-to-consumer sales platform (iOS, Android, web), the Narration Academy training program, Educational Audio production in 30+ languages, Lantern Audio Tours for experiential audio, and studio rental services.

The company serves three primary customer segments: major trade and educational publishers (Disney Publishing, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Hachette, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Bloomsbury), independent and self-published authors (served via the post-2023 Lantern Audio merger and PubDirect), and educational publishers needing ELT/ESL and foreign-language content. Go-to-market is primarily sales-led enterprise field sales for major publishers, paired with white-glove direct support for indie authors (Kevin Stillwell), supplemented by recurring industry events including the Atlanta Narrator Showcase, Hot Off the Mic romance showcases, and Audies participation.

Revenue is generated through per-finished-hour audiobook production fees, distribution transaction fees across 100+ platforms, marketplace commissions from PubDirect direct sales (with up to 70% royalties to authors), tiered Narration Academy course pricing ($39 home studio tune-up through $2,520 full demo production), and hourly studio rental ($39/hour self-recording at Lantern Studios Atlanta plus higher-end professional studio rentals). The company produces thousands of audiobooks annually, earned 3 wins and a record 20 nominations at the 2024 Audie Awards, and operates as a privately held, founder-controlled business (CEO John Marshall Cheary III) with no disclosed outside funding.

Name

John Marshall Media

Legal name

John Marshall Media, Inc.

Website

https://johnmarshallmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

John Marshall Media is a GRAMMY-winning audiobook and voice production house with 12 studios in NYC, Atlanta, and Mexico City, serving major publishers, indie authors, and educational publishers with end-to-end production, 100+ platform distribution, and direct-to-consumer sales via PubDirect.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiobook Production Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (512240), Sound Recording Industries (5122), Record Production and Distribution (51225)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiobook Technology & Services (Hosting/CDN, DRM, Analytics, Ad Insertion) (MPAJAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE), Enterprise Audio Publishing & Private Podcast Platforms (MPAIADAI), Exclusive/Original Audio Content Studios (Audio Originals, Serialized Audio) (MPAJAIAF)

Keywords

• Audiobook production services
• Voice recording studios
• Audiobook distribution platforms
• Immersive audio production
• Narration training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Audiobook Production Services: Full-service audiobook production including casting, directing, recording, editing, proofing, sound design, quality control, and delivery. Services include single-voice and multicast narration, full-cast dramatic audiobooks, and immersive audio productions with music and sound design. Revenue generated through per-finished-hour pricing model.
2. Audiobook & eBook Distribution: Non-exclusive distribution services placing audiobooks and eBooks on 100+ retail, subscription, and library platforms worldwide. Revenue generated through distribution fees and aggregated royalty management for quarterly payouts.
3. PubDirect Direct Sales: Direct-to-consumer audiobook and eBook sales platform for authors with existing audiences. Authors keep higher royalty rates (up to 70%) on direct sales while maintaining broad distribution. Platform includes dedicated storefronts, free audiobook/eBook giveaways, and commission earnings when customers purchase other titles.
4. Studio Rental (Self-Recording): Affordable studio rental for audiobook narrators at Lantern Studios Atlanta. Narrators record themselves with engineer support at $39 per studio hour. Additional services include pre-edit, full edit, and QC.
5. Narration Academy Training: Audiobook narration training programs including pre-beginner courses ($195), introductory workshops ($39-$49), demo production ($1,290-$2,520), 3-week workshops ($225), one-on-one coaching, open booth nights ($45), home studio setup courses ($39), and single-day intensives ($295).
6. Professional Studio Rental: High-end recording studio rental for podcasts, film and television ADR, commercial voiceover, advertising, and music-adjacent projects. Studios support voiceover, ADR, mix-to-picture, and podcast recording sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

John Marshall Media is a GRAMMY-winning audiobook and voice production house providing end-to-end audiobook production services — casting, directing, recording, editing, proofing, sound design, QC, and delivery — for major trade and educational publishers, alongside non-exclusive distribution to 100+ retail/library/educational platforms and a direct-to-consumer storefront (PubDirect) for authors. The company operates 12 purpose-built voice recording studios across New York, Atlanta, and Mexico City, equipped with identical standardized signal chains.

Product overview

John Marshall Media operates as a unified audiobook production and distribution ecosystem with multiple integrated service lines. The core offering combines full-service audiobook production (single-voice, multicast, and immersive/dramatic formats) with broad distribution across 100+ retail, library, and educational platforms via their proprietary distribution network. Supporting services include PubDirect for direct-to-consumer sales with higher royalty rates, Narration Academy for professional narrator training, Educational Audio for ELT/ESL content, Lantern Audio Tours for experience-based audio, and Self-Record studio rentals. The company operates purpose-built recording studios in New York City, Atlanta, and Mexico City for voice recording, ADR, podcasts, and film/TV work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JMM Studios: Recording studio division of John Marshall Media, purpose-built exclusively for spoken-word audio with locations in New York City, Atlanta, and Mexico City.
• Narration Academy
• Lantern (Indie Division)
• Lantern Distribution
• PubDirect
• Lantern Audio Tours

Products and services

• Audiobook Production Full-service audiobook production for major publishers and independent authors, covering casting, directing, recording, editing, proofing, QC, and delivery. Supports single-voice narration, multicast, full-cast dramatic productions, and immersive audio with music and sound design.
• Immersive Audio Immersive and dramatic audiobook production that combines adaptation, multicast casting, recording, direction, SFX, and music to produce full-cast cinematic audio experiences for major publishers.
• Distribution Non-exclusive audiobook and eBook distribution service placing titles on 100+ retail, subscription, library, and educational platforms worldwide, including Amazon, Audible, Apple Books, Spotify, Google Play, OverDrive, and Hoopla, with aggregated quarterly royalty payouts.
• PubDirect Direct-to-consumer audiobook and eBook sales platform for authors, accessible via iOS, Android, and web apps, with built-in eReader and audiobook player, dedicated author storefronts, free title giveaways, and an author-to-author commission structure. Authors retain up to 70% of royalties on direct sales.
• Narration Academy Audiobook narration training program offering pre-beginner courses, intro workshops, full demo production, 3-week workshops, one-on-one coaching, open booth nights, home studio setup courses, and single-day intensives, taught by working audiobook professionals and JMM's Chief Engineer.
• Educational Audio Audio production services for educational publishers covering ELT/ESL courses, educational audiobooks, children's songs, foreign language teaching, and interactive media skills in 30+ languages. The Education department has produced over 3,000 educational songs.
• Self-Record Studio Rental (Lantern Studios Atlanta) Affordable self-recording studio rental at Lantern Studios Atlanta where narrators record themselves at $39 per studio hour with engineer setup, training, and file delivery. Optional pre-edit, full edit, and QC services are available.
• Lantern Audio Tours Audio tour services that transform experiences through creative services, technology platforms, and operations, delivering offline-ready audio tours with multi-language support for cultural and visitor attractions.
• Voice Recording Studio Rental High-end professional recording studio rental across JMM's NYC, Atlanta, and Mexico City locations, supporting voiceover for commercial and corporate use, ADR for film and television, podcast recording, and mix-to-picture post-production in purpose-built ultra-quiet environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Non-exclusive distribution enables access to 100+ platforms vs Audible's ~50% market share, allowing authors to reach the full market.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BookTribcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBookTrib is a robust online community where readers discover authors and authors get seen. JMM partners with BookTrib to connect authors directly to a passionate community of nearly half of members purchasing 50 books a year. BookTrib serves as a cost-effective marketing engine for authors and publishers to drive visibility, credibility, and book sales.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tantor Audio: Audiobook publisher and producer with a sizable catalog across fiction and non-fiction. Directly comparable to JMM in producing audiobooks for trade publishers and self-published authors.
• Blackstone Audio: Audiobook publisher and producer with a large catalog spanning trade, library, and educational channels. Comparable to JMM in scale and breadth of audiobook production and distribution.
• Recorded Books: Long-standing audiobook producer and distributor serving libraries, schools, and retailers. Comparable to JMM as a full-service audiobook production and distribution competitor, though Recorded Books is more library-channel focused and is owned by Recorded Books Inc./RB Media.
• Dreamscape Media: Full-service audiobook production and publishing company serving major publishers, indie authors, and library markets. Directly comparable to JMM in production services, distribution reach, and indie author focus.
• Brilliance Audio: Audiobook production and distribution company, now part of Amazon. Directly comparable to JMM in producing audiobooks for major publishers and distributing to retail and library channels.
• Findaway Voices (Spotify): Audiobook distribution and production platform, now part of Spotify. Directly comparable to JMM's PubDirect in offering non-exclusive distribution to indie authors and to multiple retail platforms globally.
• HighBridge Audio: Audiobook publisher and producer with a premium literary catalog. Comparable to JMM in producing audiobooks for trade publishers and competing for Audie/GRAMMY recognition.
• Author's Republic: Audiobook distribution aggregator for indie authors and small publishers placing titles across retail and library platforms without exclusivity. Directly comparable to JMM's non-exclusive 100+ platform distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Hachette Audio: Audiobook imprint of Hachette Book Group producing audiobooks primarily for the parent publisher. Comparable to JMM in audiobook production capability but with publisher-owned exclusivity rather than a third-party production model.
• HarperAudio: Audiobook imprint of HarperCollins Publishers producing audiobooks primarily for the parent publisher. Comparable to JMM in production quality and as a JMM customer (per JMM's stated client roster).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@JohnMarshallMedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/john-marshall-media-inc.
• Xx.com/johnmarshallmed
• Facebookfacebook.com/johnmarshallmedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about John Marshall Media