Frankfurter Buchmesse’s 2023 Frankfurt Audio area in Hall 3.1 was roughly half the size of the upcoming 2024 edition. Image: FBM, Ingo Hattendorf
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Also today: The UK’s Spiracle Opens ‘Audiobook in a Card’ for Bookstores
Frankfurt Audio Returns, Bigger This Year
At Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 16 to 20), the exhibition space dedicated to audio in Hall 3.1 will be almost twice the size of last year’s Frankfurt Audio area, according to organizers—an allocation of 640 square meters this year (6,888 feet) as opposed to last year’s 330 square meters (3,552).
Hall 3 is the building at Messe Frankfurt primarily committed to the German book trade, of course, but the audio area will have representation from a widely international sector of the industry, including Booktrack Philippines Services, Lausch Medien, and Synthya. Players connected by their specializations in audiobooks, podcasts, audio services, and/or software will be using stands and Frankfurt ‘s quite popular workstations as their bases of operation.
On Frankfurt Wednesday, October 16, Zebralution is scheduled to host a networking reception at Frankfurt Studio (Hall 4.0) at 5 p.m. And on Frankfurt Thursday, October 17, the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels‘ IG Hörbuch division, is to hold another networking reception in the Hall 3.1 Audio Area itself.
IG Hörbuch will also have a collective stand for the work of German audiobook publishers, at Hall 3.1, K24 and K25.
Programming on the Buchmesse trade days (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) are to feature a number of announced speakers, led by Amanda D’Acierno, president and publisher of Penguin Random House Audio Group; Jon Watt, trade audio and business development director of Bonnier Books in the United Kingdom; Owen Smith, vice-president of audiobooks with Spotify; Aurelie de Troyer, head of Audible‘s regional content for Europe; and Niclas Sandin, the CEO of BookBeat.
Selected Events Relative to Audio
In Frankfurter Buchmesse’s 2023 Frankfurt Audio area in Hall 3.1. Image: FBM, Ingo Hattendorf
All events listed here are set in Frankfurt Studio, in Hall 4.0, accessed immediately from the foyer of the building as you enter from the Agora. These events are all on October 16.
2 to 2.30 p.m.
Audible landscape: What’s next for audio, building audience and creating breakout authors
2:30 to 3 p.m.
Spotify Audiobooks: The Next Chapter for Authors and Publishers
3 to 4 p.m.
The European Audiobook Listener 2024: A Data Deep Dive into the Key Markets
4-4:45 p.m.
Meeting the Demand: Audio Strategies with Amanda D’Acierno and Jon Watt, presented by Publishing Perspectives Forum
5 t0 6 p.m.
The Power of Data: How to Amplify Your Audio Marketing Strategy, followed by the Zebralution networking reception
And on the Audiobook Worlds Stage, “highlights for audiobook and podcast fans” are to be presented by Bookwire during Frankfurt weekend, October 19 and 20, in Hall 3.1.
Trade visitors at an audiobook display in the 2023 edition of Frankfurt Audio, Hall 3.1. The audio area returns in 2024 at roughly twice the size of the 2023 edition. Image: FBM, Anett Weirauch
The Arts+ Stage
Futurist Sven Göth speaks on The Arts+ Stage at the 2023 Frankfurter Buchmesse. Image: FBM, Zino Peterek
This year’s return to Hall 4.1 of The Arts+ Stage is focused once more on new developments, trends, and innovations in publishing. The brand promise of this program is to bring in speakers from “nearby” creative industries to explicate trends and issue that may have application to the publishing world.
Storytelling in associated media is frequently on this stage, which over the weekend becomes a showcase for topics in comics, manga, and anime.
Two events highlighted here by our colleagues in Frankfurt on the stage (Hall 4.1):
October 17, 10 a.m.
Exploring the Benefits of Augmented Reality Picture Books for Neurodivergent Individuals
October 17, 4 p.m.
Creative Europe: EU Funding Opportunities for the Book and Publishing Sector
Audience members at a 2023 The Arts+ talk by futurist Sven Göth. Image: FBM, Zino Peterek
More advance looks at Frankfurt events and activities will come in ensuing coverage.
A calendar of events is expected to be posted by organizers at the end of August.
- Tickets, as we’ve reported, are selling now here.
- Information on sponsored master-class events and “The Hof” as pre-fair digital events is here.
- And, as reported earlier this week, Frankfurt Connect, a new development of the trade show’s online presence, is here.
More from Publishing Perspectives on international book publishing trade shows and book fairs is here, more on Frankfurter Buchmesse is here, more on audio and audiobooks in publishing is here, and our Rights Roundup series found here.