Audiobook publishing on Audible, with the rights kept in your name
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Audible changed how ACX pays in 2026
50%
Exclusive
30%
Non-exclusive
Higher rates, different math
Under Audible's new royalty model, open to all ACX creators since May 26, 2026, rates rose from 40% to 50% exclusive and from 25% to 30% non-exclusive. Membership listening is now paid from a pooled “Member Value” rather than a flat cut of each sale, so a higher rate doesn't automatically mean more money.
The old model ends at the end of 2026. Existing titles must enroll in the new model or leave Audible. If you already have an audiobook on ACX, we can walk you through the switch.
What we handle
- ACX account set up in your name, with the audio rights claimed to you
- Audition script and casting brief, so you hear narrators read your actual book
- Narrator deal terms explained before you make an offer
- Production schedule and chapter-by-chapter review with you
- Quality check against ACX's audio submission requirements before upload
- Audiobook cover resized from your book cover to ACX's square format
- Distribution choice modeled on your goals: exclusive or non-exclusive
Three ways to pay your narrator
ACX lets you pay upfront, share royalties, or combine both. The choice affects your cost today and your income for years.
| Detail | Pay for Production | Royalty Share | Royalty Share Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Full rate per finished hour | None | A reduced rate per finished hour |
| Royalties | 100% of yours to you | Split with the narrator | Split with the narrator |
| How long the split lasts | No split | Seven years | Seven years |
| Distribution | Exclusive or non-exclusive | Exclusive only | Exclusive only |
| Best for | Authors with budget who want full income | Tight budgets, books with proven sales | Attracting stronger narrators without the full fee |
Exclusive or non-exclusive?
Exclusive (50%) puts your audiobook on Audible, Amazon and Apple Books, and nowhere else. It's the simpler choice for most first audiobooks.
Non-exclusive (30%) keeps those stores and frees you to sell through libraries, other retailers and your own site. ACX doesn't handle those extra channels, so you or another distributor set them up separately.
About AI narration
How it works
Eligibility check
We confirm you're in an ACX country and your ebook or print edition is live on Amazon.
ACX setup
Your account is created in your name and the title claimed.
Casting
We post your audition script and shortlist narrators for you to choose.
Deal and schedule
You pick the deal type; we agree deadlines with the narrator.
Production review
First 15 minutes approved, then every chapter checked with you.
Quality check
Audio checked against ACX's technical requirements before submission.
Publish
Submitted to ACX and live after Audible's review.
Costs
ACX is free to use. Narration is paid to the narrator directly, at their rate. Our fee covers setup, casting and production management.
| Package | Includes | Service fee |
|---|---|---|
| ACX setup | Account, title claim, cover, distribution settings | Custom quote |
| Casting and setup | Setup plus audition script, casting and deal guidance | Custom quote |
| Full production management | Casting, chapter review, quality check and publishing | Custom quote |
Narration fees are extra and set by the narrator. ACX rates and policies last verified September 2026.
What royalty does ACX pay in 2026?
Under Audible's new royalty model, which opened to all creators on May 26, 2026, ACX pays 50% for exclusive distribution and 30% for non-exclusive. The old 40% and 25% model is being discontinued by the end of 2026.
Can I use AI narration on ACX?
Not through a standard ACX submission. ACX requires human narration unless otherwise authorized. Amazon offers AI narration separately through its own programs, and some other retailers accept disclosed AI narration.
Who can publish on ACX?
Rights holders in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland. The ebook or print edition must already be for sale on Amazon.
How long will my audiobook be?
A common estimate is about 9,300 words per finished hour, so a 70,000-word book runs roughly seven and a half hours. Pace varies by narrator and genre.
Who owns the audiobook?
You do. The ACX account and the audio rights stay in your name. With a Royalty Share deal, the narrator shares royalties for seven years, but does not own the book.
Should I choose exclusive or non-exclusive distribution?
Exclusive pays a higher rate and covers Audible, Amazon and Apple Books. Non-exclusive pays less on those stores but lets you sell to libraries and other retailers, which you arrange separately.
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