named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
APA Sales and Consumer Surveys
Annual research initiative providing members with data on market trends, sales figures, and listener preferences in the audiobook industry.
APAC Conference
Annual conference for audio professionals featuring educational sessions on business, production, and narration, along with networking opportunities and industry panels.
Audie Awards
Prestigious awards program recognizing excellence in audiobook production across multiple categories, judged by industry professionals.
Meet the Producers
Session enabling narrators to perform live readings for producers and receive immediate feedback, fostering casting connections.
Mentorship Program
Program connecting emerging voice talent with experienced industry professionals for guidance on narration, career development, and industry navigation.
Quick Pitch
Virtual event allowing narrators to present sample clips to casting directors and producers from member companies.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Administers the Audie Awards competition and galaOrganizes and oversees the annual Audie Awards, the premier U.S. awards program recognizing excellence in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment, including coordinating over 200 judges, managing the awards gala in New York City, and announcing winners across multiple categories.
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Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
- Advocates for the audiobook industry through public relations and awareness campaignsConducts advocacy, public relations, and marketing initiatives to increase public awareness of the audiobook industry, including managing the Sound Learning initiative to promote audiobooks' role in literacy.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Hosts professional development and educational events for audio industry membersPlans and delivers educational programming, webinars, panel discussions, and sessions on topics such as narration techniques, marketing strategies, business practices, and industry trends for audiobook professionals through events like APAC and virtual forums.
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Corporate Sponsorship Programs 1 activity
- Offers sponsorship and visibility opportunities for industry partnersProvides year-round sponsorship opportunities for companies and individuals, including event, webinar, email, and networking social sponsorships, to support industry engagement and visibility at APA events such as the Audie Awards and APAC.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Organizes networking and community-building events for industry professionalsHosts virtual and in-person social events, Quick Pitch sessions, Meet the Producers sessions, and other networking opportunities to connect narrators, producers, and publishers, including year-round and event-based gatherings.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Produces and distributes member communications and promotional contentProduces monthly e-newsletters, email alerts, and an industry news blog to inform members about APA activities, industry trends, and member opportunities, and facilitates promotional campaigns to increase audiobook awareness.
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Professional Development and Standards in Marketing and Communications 1 activity
- Provides professional development resources for voice talent and narratorsOffers access to webinars, research reports, promotional toolkits, and practical guides on home studios, digital audio workstations, marketing, and narration best practices to support professional growth in the audiobook industry.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Supports diversity and inclusion in the audiobook industry through mentorship and trainingProvides peer-to-peer mentorship, New Narrator Workshops, and targeted resources to support individuals from underserved and underrepresented populations in entering and advancing in the audiobook narration profession.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Conducts and disseminates annual industry research surveysProduces and releases annual Sales and Consumer Surveys providing data on market trends, listener preferences, and industry performance, including reporting $2.43 billion in audiobook sales for 2025.
- Establishes and administers the APA Hall of FameManages the APA Hall of Fame, a program honoring distinguished narrators and pioneers in the audiobook industry, with formal inductions beginning in 2026 during the Audie Awards ceremony.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$949K
Contributions & grants$327K34%
Program service revenue$607K64%
Investment income$15K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$875K
Program expenses60%
Admin / overhead40%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$101K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.57M
Cash$1.30M
Investments$0
Liabilities$508K
Net assets$1.07M
Liquid reserves17.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -20.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 9
- ANA MARIA ALLESSI — Director
- BRAD HILL — Director
- COLLEEN PRENDERGAST — Director
- DAN ZITT — Director
- HEATHER FAIN — Director
- LAURA GACHKO — Director
- LAUREN CANNAVINO — Director
- LORI BENTON — Director
- VICTORIA GERKEN — Director
relationships · 45
Who they work with
- APA Network — Member organization serving narrative audio professionals.
- Abrams Books Partner — Co-chairs the research committee responsible for consumer and sales surveys
- Advantage Media Group Partner — Participates through marketing leadership in APA conference programming
- Audible Partner — Participates through producer representation in APA production track session
- Brilliance Publishing Partner — Participates through producer representation in APA casting and auditions session
- Curated Audio Partner — Co-founded by narrators participating in APA sessions on narration as a business and performance
- Dreamscape Media LLC Partner — Participates through content marketing representation in APA conference programming
- European Accessibility Act Government — Provides information and resources related to compliance with the European Accessibility Act.
- Grants for the Arts Government — APA membership dues may be deductible as business expenses, indicating engagement with federal tax frameworks.
- Hachette Audio Partner — Participates as a speaker organization in APA conference programming
- Hall of Fame Network — Inducts individuals or works into the Audie Awards Hall of Fame as part of the annual recognition program.
- Harper Collins Partner — Co-chairs the educational programming committee for industry events
- HarperCollins Partner — Participates through producers, directors, and marketing executives in multiple APA conference sessions
- Independent Book Publishers Association Partner — CEO participates in APA conference panel on self-publishing and distribution
- LA Times Festival of Books Partner — Collaborates on panels related to audiobooks and audio storytelling.
- Lavender Reel Media Group, LLC Partner — Participates through audiobook director and filmmaker in APA storytelling session
- Leonardo Audio Partner — Participates through CEO and multi-role audio professional in APA session on narration as a business
- Libro.fm Partner — Participates through business development representative in APA conference panel on distribution
- Macmillan Partner — Participates through producer and marketing representatives in APA conference sessions
- NetGalley Partner — Participates through customer acquisition leadership in APA marketing track session
- New York City Government — Hosts the annual Audies Gala in New York City.
- Penguin Random House Partner — Chairs the APA Hall of Fame Selection Committee
- Penguin Random House Audio Global Partner — Participates as a speaker organization in APA conference programming
- Pier 60 Partner — Venue partner for the 2027 Audies Gala.
- Podium Entertainment Partner — Co-chairs the research committee responsible for consumer and sales surveys
- Podium Entertainment Partner — Participates through executive and casting leadership in multiple APA conference sessions
- Pozotron Partner — Sponsored the September 2026 LA In-Person Social event hosted by the Audio Publishers Association.
- Pozotron, Inc. Partner — Co-chairs the educational programming and communications committees
- Princeton University Press Partner — Co-chairs the Public Relations and Events Committee
- RBMedia Partner — Participates as a speaker organization in APA conference programming
+ 15 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Data-Driven Advocacy and Consumer Researchmethodology: data_driven_insight_sharingBy generating and sharing comprehensive sales and consumer data, the organization builds public awareness and informs industry strategy because evidence-based insights enable more effective advocacy, marketing, and decision-making across the sector.
- Inclusion Through Mentorship and Equitable Accessmethodology: inclusion-through-mentorshipBy providing mentorship, targeted training, and lottery-based access to professional opportunities, the organization fosters inclusion of underrepresented talent in the audiobook industry because structural barriers are reduced through both relationship-based support and randomized fairness in opportunity distribution.
- Literacy Advocacy to Expand Audiobook Legitimacymethodology: literacy-advocacy-through-prBy promoting audiobooks as a literacy tool through public relations and educational initiatives like Sound Learning, the organization increases cultural and educational recognition of audiobooks because reframing audio as a learning medium expands access and reduces stigma.
- Social Model of Disability in Industry Practicemethodology: social_model_of_disabilityBy applying the social model of disability to guide initiatives, the organization promotes equity in the audiobook industry because disability is understood as a function of systemic barriers and exclusionary practices, not individual deficits—leading to more accessible and inclusive systems.
- Trade Association Model for Industry Advancementmethodology: trade_association_modelBy conducting research, hosting events, building community, and advocating for the sector, the organization advances the audiobook industry as a whole because collective infrastructure and unified representation drive sector-wide growth and resilience.