Audible's new royalty model brings more ways to earn

As Audible continues to grow our catalog and serve millions of listeners globally, we are always thinking about how we can better support the creators who make it possible. Audible's new royalty model is the foundation that unlocks the opportunity to evolve our offering globally, enabling us to attract new listeners with more access options and in new territories.

Under the new royalty model, ACX creators can:

• Select exclusive distribution to Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books for a 50% royalty rate or non-exclusive distribution for 30%

• Opt-in titles to make them eligible for Audible’s all-you-can-listen (AYCL) program

• Suggest pricing for titles

• Gain better insights with more detailed earnings statements

Here's how the new royalty model works:

At its core is Member Value—the price of a listener's monthly membership plan (for example, Standard or Premium) minus taxes and fees. When a member uses additional credits that month, we add the value of that credit to the Member Value. That total is then divided proportionally among the titles the member engaged with based on their a la carte price, and your share is multiplied by your contractual royalty rate to determine your payment. This means that for the first time, ACX creators can earn across all plan types and consumption methods–whether listeners use a credit or access your book through the AYCL catalog.

How early access creators are benefiting from the new model:

• “Overall, these changes have improved both monetization and visibility across my catalog.” —Hunter Blain, author of the “Preternatural Chronicles,” an urban fantasy series

• " With AYCL, I’m now seeing a much quicker return, which has encouraged me to expand my audio library.” —Bruno Miller, military veteran turned sci-fi author of the “Dark Road” series

• "My titles have also received hundreds of additional reviews since enrolling in the new royalty model." —Jennifer Peel, USA Today bestselling author of rom-coms like The Spy Who Ghosted Me

After over a year of testing, we are excited to offer access to our new royalty model to our entire creator community starting May 26, 2026.

What’s happening to the legacy royalty model:

By end of year, the legacy royalty model will be discontinued. By that time, you must either choose to enroll your titles in the new model or discontinue distribution if you prefer. We encourage you to enroll your existing titles as soon as possible to take full advantage of the new features, including suggested pricing, the AYCL program, and expanded earning opportunities. You can find additional resources on our microsite.

We are excited for this change and the opportunities it affords our creators, and we are committed to making the transition as easy as possible for you—we are here to support you every step of the way.

FAQs

What is Audible’s new royalty model on ACX?

Audible’s new royalty model is designed to unlock new earning opportunities for ACX creators by reflecting how members listen today. Under this new model, a listener’s membership revenue is distributed among all titles they engage with. This means creators can now earn royalties across all Audible membership listening engagement, including when members listen to titles from all-you-can-listen offerings. Creators also have new opportunities to earn, including new royalty rates (50% exclusive, 30% non-exclusive), ability to suggest a price, and opting-in titles to AYCL.

How do I enroll my titles in the new royalty model?

Starting May 26, 2026, all ACX creators can enroll existing titles by following these steps:

• Log into www.acx.com

• From your ACX dashboard, click the My Projects tab

• Select Enroll titles on the blue banner on the top of the My Projects page

• Select the title(s) that you'd like to enroll, and then select Enroll title

• Select Confirm to finish

• You will receive a message from the message center letting you know which titles have been enrolled in Audible’s new royalty model and the effective date for the new terms

Note: Remember that this enrollment goes into effect on the 1st of the following month. Starting May 26th, all newly claimed titles will be on the new model.

How does the new royalty model calculate royalties?

In the new model, royalties for Audible’s membership offerings will equal Member Value multiplied by your contractual royalty rate. Member Value for each offering will be shared with you on your earnings statement. For more information, visit the Help Center article for Audible's new royalty model.

Does the new royalty model change how a la carte royalties are calculated?

No, our model for non-member and member cash purchases will not change. Our new royalty model is only for our membership offerings. With the new royalty model, you also have higher royalty rates (Exclusive distribution: 50% vs. 40% on the legacy model; Non-exclusive distribution: 30% vs. 25% on the legacy model), which means you earn higher with cash purchases.

How does your “suggested price” work on ACX?

You can use the suggested price tool within the ACX experience for any new title being published, or existing title already enrolled, on the new royalty model. This feature allows you to suggest a price for your audiobook by entering the amount at which you'd like to sell your audiobook on Audible across all marketplaces. Audible determines your title's price and reserves the right to adjust it at any time based on multiple factors. Your suggested price is one factor we consider. The price at which we sell your title may not always match your suggested price. For instance, we might sell your title at a lower price during a sale or promotion, or to match a third party's price. For more information, visit the Help Center article for suggested price.

What is the All You Can Listen program on ACX?

The AYCL program allows creators enrolled in Audible's new royalty model to opt-in titles for distribution in the AYCL catalog in the Premium membership plan. Audible curates which opted-in titles are included in the AYCL catalog to provide the best listener experience. Note: Your title needs to be enrolled in Audible’s new royalty model to be eligible for AYCL program inclusion. For more information, visit the Help Center article for the AYCL program.