Representatives from Taiwan’s e-book industry say there is great potential for audiobooks. Audiobooks are becoming more and more popular around the world. According to a report published in June by the Ministry of Culture, the US audiobook market was worth US$1.2 billion in 2019.
Insiders say that presently Taiwan’s audiobook market is small, but the way people enjoy books here is changing. They say it’s time to enter the audiobook game.
Industry representatives say that cooperation between movie, television, and the performing arts is crucial in developing the market. They say it is also important for government institutions to act as mediators and facilitators, bringing businesses, platforms, and performers together. However, the industry is still facing some problems - Taiwanese readers greatly enjoy translations of foreign titles, but getting the rights to publish them in audiobook formats is not always easy.