The audio publisher

What The audio publisher does

Der Audio Verlag (DAV) is a Berlin-based audiobook publisher founded in 1999, operating as one of the established audiobook houses in the German-speaking (DACH) market. The company produces and distributes three primary content formats: Hörbücher (audiobooks), Hörspiele (audio dramas with multiple voice actors, sound effects, and music), Lesungen (single-narrator readings), and Features (documentary-style productions). Its catalog spans contemporary fiction, crime/thriller, classics, children's and young adult titles, fantasy, romance, science fiction, humor, self-help, and non-fiction. A core differentiator is its exclusive access to historical radio drama productions from the ARD broadcaster network (NDR, RBB, BR, SWR, WDR, HR, MDR, SR, Radio Bremen, Deutsche Welle) via the Deutsches Rundfunkarchiv, yielding catalog depth that includes works featuring legendary narrators such as Gert Westphal and Klaus Maria Brandauer.

DAV monetizes through a hybrid physical-and-digital model. Physical CDs are sold through book trade, online retailers, and media/record stores (Media Markt, Saturn) at unit prices ranging roughly €7.95–€40.00. Digital downloads are sold via a proprietary D2C shop (dav.hoebu.de) and distributed non-exclusively across Audible, BookBeat, Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play, Thalia, and RTL+. The company also generates licensing/royalty revenue by acquiring audiobook rights from major German book publishers and producing radio drama adaptations, which are then co-distributed with public broadcasters (ORF in Austria, SRF in Switzerland extend the geographic footprint).

The go-to-market relies on multi-channel distribution (retail, e-commerce, streaming marketplaces), event-driven author readings at Literaturhäuser and cultural institutions, PR and trade press engagement, and direct consumer marketing through newsletters and an editorial website. DAV curates its catalog into named sub-brand editions—'besser leben.' (self-help), 'Große Werke. Große Stimmen.' (literary classics), 'Edition Simenon,' 'Große Gefühle. Große Stimmen.,' and 'Günter Grass – Die Autorenlesungen'—to sharpen positioning by genre and narrator prestige. Award validation (Deutscher Hörbuchpreis, hr2-Hörbuchbestenliste placements, Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) is recurring across 2019–2026, with three titles on the hr2 list in both July 2026 and December 2025, indicating sustained editorial relevance rather than one-off recognition.

Name

The audio publisher

Legal name

Der Audio Verlag

Website

https://der-audio-verlag.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Der Audio Verlag (DAV) is a Berlin-based audiobook publisher (founded 1999) producing audiobooks, audio dramas, and readings for German-speaking consumers, leveraging ARD broadcaster archive content and distributing via Audible, BookBeat, Spotify, and physical retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiobook Publishing

NAICS

Record Production and Distribution (512250), Sound Recording Studios (51224), Sound Recording Industries (5122), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiobook Production & Studios (Narration, Recording, Editing, Mastering) (MPAJAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audiobook Retail & Subscription Platforms (Direct-to-Consumer) (MPAJAIAD), Audiobook Rights & Licensing (Territorial/Format Rights, Agencies) (MPAJAIAG), Audiobook Technology & Services (Hosting/CDN, DRM, Analytics, Ad Insertion) (MPAJAIAI)

Keywords

• Audiobook publishing
• Audio drama production
• Digital audiobook distribution
• Literary audio content
• German audiobook market

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Audiobook Sales (Physical CDs): DAV sells audiobooks as physical CDs through bookstores, online retailers, and record/media stores. Prices range from approximately €7.95 to €40.00 depending on format, length, and content type.
2. Digital Downloads: DAV sells digital audiobook downloads through their proprietary shop (dav.hoebu.de) and distributes through major platforms including Audible, BookBeat, Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play, Thalia, and RTL+.
3. Licensing Content: DAV licenses audiobook rights from major German book publishers and produces content based on licensed literary works, generating revenue through production and distribution agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Der Audio Verlag (DAV) is a German audiobook publisher that produces and sells audiobooks (Hörbücher), audio plays (Hörspiele), readings (Lesungen) and audio features, releasing them on physical CD and in digital formats. The company licenses rights from book publishers and from German public broadcasters' radio drama archives, then records, produces and distributes finished audio products to consumers and retailers.

Product overview

Der Audio Verlag (DAV) is a German audiobook publisher offering a diverse catalog of audiobooks, audio plays, and readings across multiple genres. The core products are audiobooks (Hörbücher) available in both physical CD and digital download formats. The company publishes content through several named sub-brands/editions: 'besser leben.' (self-help), 'Große Werke. Große Stimmen.' (literary classics), 'Edition Simenon' (Georges Simenon works), 'Große Gefühle. Große Stimmen.' (emotional literature), and 'Günter Grass – Die Autorenlesungen' (author readings). DAV also operates a direct-to-consumer download shop. Content is distributed through partnerships with major audiobook platforms including Audible, BookBeat, Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play, Thalia, RTL+, and various book retailers. The company collaborates with German public radio broadcasters (ARD network) for production of audio dramas and literary content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• besser leben. Edition featuring self-help and wellness titles
• Große Werke. Große Stimmen.
• Edition Simenon
• Große Gefühle. Große Stimmen.
• Günter Grass – Die Autorenlesungen

Products and services

• Hörbücher (Audiobooks) Audiobook recordings of literary works, crime, thrillers, romance and classics, released as narrated audio productions for German-speaking listeners.
• Hörspiele (Audio Plays) Multi-voice audio drama productions with sound design, including original recordings and re-released historical radio plays from German public broadcaster archives.
• Lesungen (Readings) Audio recordings of literary texts performed as readings, often by the author or a featured narrator, for German-speaking listeners.
• Features (Audio Features) Audio feature productions that complement the publisher's audiobook and audio drama catalog with documentary-style audio content.
• DAV Download-Shop Der Audio Verlag's own direct-to-consumer digital download shop selling the publisher's audiobooks, audio plays and related titles as digital files.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)coreTechnology or IntegrationBR provides access to archive radio drama productions for DAV to adapt and distribute as audiobooks. Productions include historical recordings featuring legendary narrators.
• Hessischer Rundfunk (HR)coreTechnology or IntegrationHR produces and airs audiobook content; DAV collaborates on productions including hr2-Hörbuchbestenliste featured titles.
• Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR)coreTechnology or IntegrationNDR provides archive productions including classic works like Cécile by Theodor Fontane (1975 production) for DAV distribution.
• Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB)coreTechnology or IntegrationRBB contributes radio drama productions from its archive for DAV's audiobook catalog.
• Südwestrundfunk (SWR)coreTechnology or IntegrationSWR provides archive productions including Fontane's Mathilde Möhring (1965) and Unterm Birnbaum (1948) for DAV's classic editions.
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)coreTechnology or IntegrationWDR collaborates on radio drama productions and provides archive content for DAV's audiobook catalog.
• Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR)coreTechnology or IntegrationMDR provides archive radio productions for DAV's audiobook distribution.
• DeutschlandfunkcoreTechnology or IntegrationDeutschlandfunk contributes to DAV's production partnerships for audiobook content.
• Deutschlandfunk KulturcoreTechnology or IntegrationCultural radio programming partner contributing to DAV's audiobook catalog.
• Deutsche WellecoreTechnology or IntegrationDeutsche Welle provided productions like Fontane's Frau Jenny Treibel (1988) for DAV's classic editions.
• Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF)coreTechnology or IntegrationAustrian public broadcaster partner for radio drama productions.
• SRF Schweizer Radio und FernsehencoreTechnology or IntegrationSwiss broadcaster partner contributing to DAV's international production network.
• Radio BremencoreTechnology or IntegrationRegional German broadcaster providing archive productions for DAV.
• Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR)coreTechnology or IntegrationRegional broadcaster contributing to DAV's production partnerships.
• Deutsches Rundfunkarchiv (DRA)coreTechnology or IntegrationGerman Radio Archive providing historical broadcast recordings for DAV's classic audiobook productions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BookBeat: BookBeat is a major German audiobook streaming service owned by Bonnier. It serves as both a distribution platform for DAV content and a competitor producing or commissioning exclusive audiobooks through its publishing relationships, making it a hybrid partner/competitor in the DACH market.
• Audible (Amazon): Audible is the dominant audiobook platform globally and operates Audible Studios in Germany producing original audiobooks. While primarily a distribution partner for DAV, Audible's vertical integration into original content production makes it both a key channel and an increasingly direct competitor for bestselling German authors and exclusive content deals.
• Thalia (Thalia Bücher GmbH): Thalia is Germany's largest bookstore chain with a strong audiobook retail and distribution business, including its own audiobook label and streaming platform. It serves as both a major physical and digital distribution partner for DAV while also competing as a publisher producing its own audiobook content.
• Random House Audio (Penguin Random House): Random House Audio is the audiobook imprint of one of the world's largest trade publishers and operates prominently in Germany. It competes with DAV for major bestselling author rights, celebrity narrators, and shelf placement in bookstores and on streaming platforms, though with a broader portfolio including English-language and translated titles.
• Spotify: Spotify has become a major audiobook distribution platform in Germany and is increasingly producing original spoken-word content. While DAV distributes through Spotify, the platform's expansion into original audiobook production represents both a distribution opportunity and a competitive threat as it seeks exclusive content.

Direct peers

• Ohrka: Ohrka is a free German audiobook platform offering classic literature and children's audiobooks, partially funded through public broadcasting partnerships. It overlaps with DAV's classic literature and youth content categories and represents an alternative distribution/consumption model for similar catalog types.
• Argon Verlag: Argon Verlag is a major German audiobook publisher specializing in literary fiction, crime/thriller, and high-profile narrations with celebrity voice talent. It competes directly with DAV for bestselling author rights, premium narrator talent (e.g., David Nathan, who appears in both catalogs), and shelf space on Audible, Spotify, and German streaming platforms.
• Hörbuch Hamburg: Hörbuch Hamburg is a leading German audiobook publisher producing audiobooks, radio drama adaptations, and readings across multiple genres. It is one of DAV's closest direct competitors in the German-language audiobook publishing market with overlapping catalog categories, narrator talent pools, and distribution through similar streaming platforms.

Regional players

• Bonnier Media Deutschland (AudioNow): Bonnier Media Deutschland operates audio and book publishing businesses including BookBeat and related audiobook labels. While primarily serving DACH, Bonnier's broader European media portfolio and BookBeat platform represent both partnership opportunities and competitive overlap in German-language audiobook publishing.

Emerging players

• Hörspiel-Archiv / ARD Audiothek: The ARD Audiothek is the German public broadcaster consortium's own streaming platform featuring radio drama productions and audiobooks. It represents both a potential distribution channel and a structural competitive threat, as the same ARD broadcaster archives that supply DAV also publish directly through this platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DerAudioVerlag
• Facebookfacebook.com/der.audio.verlag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The audio publisher