Apple's selling two versions of my audiobook

[alhawke]

Is this normal? I have one book selling direct to Apple and another "sponsored by Audible". Thing is, the one sponsored by audible will get the sales because it's $4 less. Are there supposed to be two versions of my audiobook, or will this be cleared up later by Apple? Should I contact Findaway distribution? I understand that Apple and audible work together and I'm guessing this is why it's happening?

[Bill Hiatt]

Audible used to have an exclusive contract to distribute through Apple--until the courts threw it out. Now Findaway and others can distribute to Apple as well. I wasn't aware you could go direct to Apple, but evidently, you can, since you did.

I haven't looked at an Audible contract in ages, but I assume it still gives them the right to distribute to Apple. I don't know if it precludes you from distributing to Apple yourself, particularly if you try to stop Audible from doing so. It would be good to check the wording. If there is no obvious impediment, talk to Apple customer support. But it sounds like an impending mess.

[alhawke]

I haven't looked at an Audible contract in ages, but I assume it still gives them the right to distribute to Apple. I don't know if it precludes you from distributing to Apple yourself, particularly if you try to stop Audible from doing so. It would be good to check the wording. If there is no obvious impediment, talk to Apple customer support. But it sounds like an impending mess.

Thank you, Bill Hiatt. Yes, I think it has to do with their contract. I think things will work out, it just means a lower royalty until fixed.

I've since did some research. For those of you who choose Findaway like I did, this is actually happening a lot unfortunately. So I filled out a form and I'm hoping for the best.

At first I feared the audio was some sort of piracy, but it's due to Findaway's distribution. The problem is the AI system at Findaway shoots your audio to Audible AND Apple, Audible approves it and then puts the title up on Apple. But Findaway already placed the audio on Apple. Audible drops the price of our audiobooks, as most of you know, so Audible gets the sales. But I'm guessing its due to timing of approval, nothing nefarious. Interestingly, my biggest fear beyond this was that I wouldn't get approved by Audible for my audio to be placed on Amazon. My audio was approved the first day and put on sale immediately, which I've read is pretty rare. So the snag might be worth this trade off?

[Bill Hiatt]

I remember a long-ago thread (maybe long enough ago to have been on Writer's Cafe) which talked about Findaway's claim that its submissions to Apple would supersede Audible's. At the time, I thought that sounded suspicious. Evidently, it was.

The easiest fix would be to remove Apple from Findaway's distribution, except that you'd end up with the lower priced book being the one that remained. And I'm pretty sure you can't remove Apple from Audible's distribution. Sigh!

[alhawke]

My audiobook submission for Broomstick was fixed. Now it happened again with the second book in series, Windstorm.
I'm writing again for anyone stumbling on this thread cause it will probably happen to you if you publish your audio by Findaway.

For any of you submitting audiobooks via Findaway, check Apple after the audiobook is accepted on Audible. Audible apparently will send the book over to Apple by default as they're contracted together. Then you'll have a cheaper book selling via Audible and you'll get lower royalties. If you contact Findaway, they'll fix it and remove Audible's submission. The book will then be sold direct in the Apple store.

[Bill Hiatt]

Findaway can remove Audible's submission to Apple? That's interesting news indeed.

[alhawke]

Just an update. Every time I publish an audiobook on Findaway, Audible releases a duplicate product on Apple. So, as I mentioned above, if you publish through Findaway, check your apple products and request Apple to delete the Audible duplicate. If you don't, you'll have two versions of your books show up. Not sure if this applies to Author's Republic? Hopefully, Findaway will eventually clear up this error.
Findaway's instructions to clear it: contact Apple Books:
"I am reaching out due to three of my titles being duplicated on Apple Books, as in, two products available for a singular audio title. Findaway has advised that I contact you directly. The duplicate that needs to be hidden is Audible as I’m selling direct.
{Your book:
The link to the version to KEEP is here:
{add your link
The link to the version to be HIDDEN is here:
{add your link"