Today's Read Contributor Audiobook publishing giant RBmedia announced record-setting results for the 2025 fiscal year, highlighting a period of unprecedented growth and continued dominance in the spoken-word entertainment space. In a sector update released on January 14, 2026, the company detailed robust expansion across its global catalog, production partnerships, and distribution platforms, underscoring the increasingly central role that audiobooks play in the modern publishing industry.
With its catalog now exceeding 100,000 audiobooks, RBmedia maintains its position as the world’s largest publisher in the format. The company’s impressive growth reflects both rising consumer demand for audio content and a carefully executed strategy to diversify its offerings. From bestsellers and literary classics to niche genres and original productions, RBmedia has focused on expanding its reach to meet the varied tastes of global listeners.
2025 marked a milestone year in several respects. Among RBmedia’s most notable achievements was the production of audio editions for 126 titles that made the New York Times Best Sellers list — a 25 percent increase over the previous year. These included some of the most widely consumed audiobooks of the year, with breakout hits like Rebecca Yarros’s “Fourth Wing” topping international charts. Many of these titles also received industry accolades, cementing RBmedia’s reputation for producing high-quality, award-winning audio experiences.
CEO Michael Paull credited the company’s success to the strength of its partnerships and the talent of its authors, narrators, and production teams. According to Paull, 2025 was not just a strong year for business metrics, but also for artistic and creative accomplishments that resonated with a rapidly expanding global audience. RBmedia continued to work closely with major publishing houses, securing exclusive audio rights and deepening its collaboration with both established and independent authors. The company’s thriving independent author program was particularly impactful, offering new pathways for creative voices to reach listeners around the world.
International growth was another key component of RBmedia’s 2025 performance. Its global imprints — including W. F. Howes in the United Kingdom and Wavesound in Australia — reported strong year-over-year growth, contributing significantly to the publisher’s bottom line. RBmedia’s strategic push into non-English language markets also gained traction, with Spanish, French, and German language audiobooks helping to diversify and globalize its catalog. These efforts reflect the publisher’s vision of a more inclusive and far-reaching audio marketplace.
Technology and accessibility played an important role in the year’s success. RBmedia continued to prioritize digital distribution through its partnerships with major retail and library platforms, including Audible, Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play, OverDrive, and Hoopla. This extensive digital footprint ensures that listeners can access RBmedia’s content seamlessly across devices and services, making audiobooks an integral part of daily life for commuters, students, and casual readers alike.
Industry analysts note that RBmedia’s growth mirrors broader trends in the publishing world, where digital and audio formats are rapidly gaining market share over print. As reading habits evolve, consumers are increasingly turning to audio for its convenience, versatility, and immersive storytelling. Audiobooks, once considered a niche product, are now a mainstream component of the publishing ecosystem, and RBmedia’s performance offers clear evidence of that shift.
In addition to expanding its core business, RBmedia continued to invest in emerging formats, including dramatized audio productions and podcast-style series. These offerings are part of a growing movement that blends traditional publishing with audio-first storytelling, creating new opportunities for engagement. By experimenting with format and delivery, RBmedia is positioning itself not just as a publisher, but as a pioneer in the evolution of digital audio content.
Looking ahead to 2026, RBmedia plans to build on its momentum by further expanding its catalog, deepening its relationships with global authors and publishers, and embracing innovations in AI-assisted narration and production workflows. With listener demand showing no signs of slowing, the company is poised to remain a leading force in the continued transformation of how the world reads, listens, and connects with stories.
RBmedia’s 2025 results not only represent a landmark year for the company but also offer a snapshot of an industry in rapid evolution. As technology, culture, and consumer habits continue to converge, spoken-word audio stands at the forefront of publishing’s future — and RBmedia appears well-positioned to lead that future forward.
