Questions About the Distribution Agreement
Do I retain all rights to my audiobook?
Yes. Under our distribution agreement, you only grant us the rights required to make the digital product available through the relevant stores.
All copyrights remain with you. Our standard agreements also have no minimum term and can therefore be terminated if, for example, you decide to work with another distribution provider.
In addition, our distribution agreements apply only to the specific product concerned and do not affect any other titles by the publisher or author.
Can I also sell or offer the audiobook as a download through my own website?
Yes, that is possible. In most cases, however, we recommend making established audiobook stores and streaming services the primary way for listeners to access the title.
Most audiobook listeners already use their preferred audiobook app or have an existing subscription with services such as Audible, Spotify, or Deezer. This is generally more convenient for the listener than downloading individual MP3 files from a website. Running your own download solution also means managing payment processing, statistics, hosting, and technical delivery yourself.
We therefore recommend linking directly to the major stores from your website and, for example, providing an audio sample.
For specific marketing campaigns, direct downloads can still make sense, such as bonuses, sales funnels, or download codes. The technical implementation of download codes would need to be handled through a suitable third-party provider.
Where will my audiobook be available after release?
Unless individual platforms are specifically excluded, the audiobook will be delivered to all relevant digital audiobook stores and streaming services.
These include Audible/Amazon, Spotify, Deezer, BookBeat, Thalia, Tolino, Apple Books, Google Play Books, and many others.
YouTube may also be included in the distribution. Streams there are monetized in the same way as streams on other supported platforms.
The agreement refers to a percentage of revenues being paid out. How much will we actually receive?
There is no single fixed amount that can be quoted for digital distribution revenues, as payments vary considerably depending on the platform and its business model. Services such as Spotify, YouTube, Apple, and Audible all compensate content differently. At Audible and Amazon, for example, royalties can also depend on whether an audiobook was accessed through a subscription or purchased as an individual download.
Our distribution partner deducts the industry-standard distribution fee from the revenues paid out by the platforms. If the agreement refers to a 90% payout, this means 90% of the revenues received by us after the distributor's share has already been deducted.
We retain only 10% as an administration fee. We primarily offer distribution as an additional service for our production clients rather than as a standalone business model.
We’ve also put together a more detailed and accessible overview in a blog article.
Why do I have to grant you certain rights to my content? Does that mean I can no longer control my own product?
The agreement only grants us the rights required to make your digital product available through the relevant stores and streaming services.
All copyrights remain entirely with you. Our standard agreements also have no minimum term and can therefore be terminated, for example if you decide to work with another distribution provider in the future.
The agreement refers to “exclusive” and “exclusive rights.” What exactly does that mean?
The exclusivity applies only to digital distribution. It ensures that the same product is not delivered to the same digital stores through another distributor at the same time.
Unless explicitly agreed otherwise, it does not apply to the distribution of physical products. The exclusivity also does not apply to the artist, author, or rights holder as a whole. It only covers the works specifically listed in the relevant agreement.
Questions About Preparing for Release
Questions About the Process After Release
How long does it take for an audiobook to become available in digital stores?
Once production is complete and all audio files and metadata have been submitted, we recommend scheduling the release approximately four to six weeks later.
This timeframe allows sufficient time for delivery and processing across the relevant audiobook platforms and helps ensure that the title is available everywhere on the planned release date.
We are happy to manage this process from the outset, including production schedules, revisions, approvals, and release planning.
I want to remove individual tracks or chapters from an audiobook. How does that work?
At present, releases are generally handled as complete products within the distribution system.
If individual tracks need to be permanently removed, the entire release normally has to be taken down first and, if necessary, delivered again in a corrected version.
I noticed that my audiobook has also been published on YouTube. Why?
YouTube is one of the distribution channels supported by our distribution partner. Streams on YouTube are monetized in a similar way to streams on platforms such as Spotify or Deezer.
Individual distribution channels can be excluded if required. If you only notice after publication that you do not want your audiobook to be available through a specific provider, simply contact us and we will coordinate the necessary changes with our distribution partner.
When will I receive my first royalty statement and sales figures?
As set out in the agreement, statements are prepared quarterly once the agreed minimum payout threshold of €50 has been reached. If the amount remains below this threshold, it is carried over to the following quarter until the minimum amount is reached.
After a new release, however, it may take some time before complete sales and streaming figures become available. Some platforms report their revenues with a considerable delay. Audible, for example, reports quarterly and may then require several additional months before the information reaches distributors and publishers.
As a result, it can take around six months after release before the first complete royalty data becomes available.
Can I get a list of all the stores where my audiobook is available?
As a general rule, your audiobook will be delivered to all relevant stores and streaming platforms offering German-language audiobooks.
The major platforms include Audible, BookBeat, Thalia, Tolino, Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Books.
In addition, the audiobook is delivered to numerous other services and platform partners. The exact number and composition of these outlets changes regularly, which is why we generally recommend distributing as widely as possible.
Individual platforms can also be excluded upon request.
Will I be notified when the audiobook is live and which stores it is available in?
If the recommended lead times have been followed, the audiobook should be available on the selected platforms on the planned release date.
Individual stores generally do not send us or our distribution partners a separate notification once a title goes live. On release day, you can therefore search for the audiobook directly on platforms such as Audible, Thalia, Spotify, or Apple Books and use the relevant links for your own communication.
If the audiobook is still missing from an important platform, please contact us. We can then check the status with our distribution partner.