eMusic introduces world's first audiobooks catalogue in mp3

eMusic the world's largest retailer of independent music and the world's second-largest digital music service after iTunes, announces the availability of more than a thousand downloadable audiobook titles in the universally compatible MP3 format starting tomorrow, September 18. Consumers, who have long wondered why they can't simply use audiobooks with their existing MP3 players, can now enjoy them without restrictions. eMusic's expansion into audiobooks, its first retail product beyond music, brings the company's award-winning combination of universal compatibility, great value, and expert

editorial to a market that is poised for growth. Worldwide digital audiobooks sales are expected to reach $201 million this year and nearly half of eMusic subscribers recently polled have expressed interest in audiobooks.

eMusic will offer more than a thousand audiobooks from major audiobook publishers including Blackstone Audio, Hachette, Naxos Audiobooks, Penguin and Random House, with hundreds more to be added each week. The catalogue comprises fiction and non-fiction classics, bestsellers and new releases, including notable books narrated by well-known voices such as: Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient, read by Ralph Fiennes; Shakespeare's Hamlet, read by Sir John Gielgud; Nicola Kraus' The Nanny Diaries, read by Julia Roberts; and Barack Obama reading his own books, Dreams of My Father and The Audacity of Hope. Upcoming releases this fall will include President Bill Clinton reading his own Giving and Eric Clapton's autobiography, narrated by Bill Nighy. Other best-selling authors available on eMusic are Jon Stewart, David Sedaris, James Patterson, Michael Connelly, Joel Osteen, Brad Meltzer, and Janet Fitch.

As with its music service, eMusic will offer audiobooks at a great value. Current eMusic customers can sign up for monthly subscriptions priced at $9.99 for one book or $19.99 for two books and get one book free as part of an introductory offer. New eMusic customers will be offered an audiobooks subscription with one audiobook free if they sign up within 14 days. (Audiobooks-only subscriptions will be available in the future.) eMusic audiobooks subscription plans represent a considerable discount from the cost of physical audiobooks, which typically retail for $20 - $40, and are far more convenient, as physical products often include at least four and sometimes as many as 20 CDs.

About Author. Here the author Cathy Halgis Nevins writes about e-Music announcing the availability of more than a thousand downloadable audio book titles in the universally compatible MP3 format. Enjoy Audio Books, music downloads, online music, free mp3 downloads at emusic.com.