Can You Hear Me Now?

If you’re old as dirt me, you remember the Verizon commercial with the “Can You Hear Me Now?” tagline.

The promotion immediately impacted Verizon’s bottom line, with its subscription base growing almost a third between 2002 and 2004.

Even to this day, when my cell reception skips a beat, I ask the person on the other line, “Can you hear me now?” 

If you’re my age, I bet you do, too.

Old habits die hard.

Come to find out, the central character with the Buddy Holly glasses, has a name. Paul Marcarelli.

While he made a ton of money on the commercial series, apparently, he couldn’t go anywhere without someone echoing the tag line.

At his grandmother’s funeral, he heard a friend whisper to another person, “Can you hear me now?” as her body was being lowered into the grave.

Later, at his cousin’s wedding, more people wanted to take a selfie with him than the bride.

At his home in Connecticut, local teenagers would drive buy his house in the middle of the night and shout, “Can you hear me now?”

One night, the harassment got so bad that he called the cops.

Finally, he parted ways with Verizon in 2011, only to join Sprint in 2016 for a similar campaign. And—you read it here first—he just rejoined Verizon last month to promote their satellite service.

As an author, we’re all looking for that kind of exposure and penetration into the book marketing.

But it won’t happen without an audio book.

CAN. YOU. HEAR. ME. NOW??

Let’s go!

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The Good News and Bad News About Audio Books

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the US audiobook industry has grown 54 percent. The audiobook market in the US is expected to reach $4.26 billion this year, with even more readers consuming books via audio than ever before.

Here’s the good news and the bad news about these developments: the audiobook market isn’t saturated…yet.

There’s still time to release an audiobook that sets you apart from your competitors. However, we are quickly moving into an age where readers are going to expect every book in audio form. 

In today’s market, your book needs to be as accessible as possible, and you want as many revenue streams as possible to generate a return on your investment.

You do this by expanding your audience beyond readers.

READ. THAT AGAIN.

Imagine reaching readers who would never engage with your book:

• People with visual impairments
• People on-the-go (think traveling salespeople driving to their next appointment)
• Young kids who can’t yet read on their own
• Learners of English as a second language 

Many of these readers listen exclusively to audiobooks.

The audiobook sector benefits from being popular in nearly all genres and age groups. That’s right—even Gen Z’ers who can’t be bothered to crack open a book are listening to audiobooks for fun—while exercising at the gym, working (surreptitiously), or doing the dishes.

Here Are Five Surprising Trends You Need to Know!

As you consider this jump, here are five trends you need to know about the audiobook market.

Trend #1. Celebrity-narrated audiobooks are on the rise

Every year, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) hosts the Audies, the awards given to the best in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.

Two of Audie’s finalists for Audiobook of the Year were read by celebrities Andrew Garfield and Barbra Streisand, narrating 1984 by George Orwell and My Name is Barbra, respectively.

That’s right—Hollywood stars are looking to audiobooks for another revenue stream and opportunity to show off their acting chops.

Other 2025 Audie celebrity nominees include Elle Fanning, Malcolm Gladwell, Kelly Bishop, and Common.

Trend #2. Author-narrated books are more popular than ever

Author “reads” provide an exclusive experience with an author’s work—going beyond reading the author’s words to hearing them in the author’s voice with their inflection.

Seven of Libro.fm’s 25 most anticipated audiobooks of 2025 will be read by their authors.

Though narrating an audiobook requires special skills and hard work, authors who record their own books typically experience a special kind of fame and reverence from their readers and the audiobook community.

Trend #3. AI has hit the audiobook market, too

Shocker. Producers are now looking into audiobooks read by AI, which must prove its mettle against the nuanced human voice.

Amazon’s Audible reportedly published over 40,000 audiobooks narrated by AI last year. Similar to the use of AI in other markets, the general consensus is that it will not completely replace the need for human work, but it will influence the market and become a more viable option in coming years.

While I wouldn’t recommend this option to Illumify authors yet, time will tell if AI can become a valuable way of producing excellent, entertaining audio content.

In my estimation, people will always prefer listening to authors rather than a machine.

Trend #4. Fully immersive audio experiences are in

Your readers want to experience your book. 

As audiobooks have increased in popularity, their productions have grown more elaborate. Some audiobooks nowadays include musical interludes and postludes, sound effects, multiple narrators, and other bonus audio content.

We may soon be looking at audiobooks as an entertainment form, one step below a TV show or movie. GraphicAudio stands at the forefront of fully immersive audio experiences. Publisher’s Weekly says the organization “lives up to its tagline, A Movie In Your Mind,” with abridged, cinematic versions of audiobooks.

Trend #5. People anticipate audiobook releases just like print releases 

Believe it or not, people pre-order and join waitlists for audiobook releases. Many recommend audiobooks to their friends saying, “It’s even better than reading the book!”

New authors have the option to release their audiobook simultaneous to their print release or as a special release after their print book has already been published. Either way, audiobooks help generate extra hype about a book release, and when they’re quality products, they’re sure to generate die-hard fans.

A year ago, we launched a partnership with Nashville Audio Productions (multi-time Audie winner and finalist) to produce professional audiobooks. Illumify authors who have worked with them have been thrilled!

Is your book or book idea right for an audiobook? Do you have additional questions about the process and costs?

Click on the button below to schedule time with me and let's explore the possibilities.

Here's one of our newest releases!

After reading a recent Illumify release, La Shaine Reynolds reached out to me to discuss publishing her book Overcoming Seventh-Day Adventism. It's a book about overcoming fear, anxiety, and spiritual abuse. Most of all, it's a book about hope.

Congratulations, La Shaine!

On a more somber note...

Two weeks ago, one of our most gregarious and unique authors passed away. Alan Ahlgrim was a well-known pastor across the country and resided about 50 miles north of the Illumify office. When we released Ahlgrim's book, Soul Strength, in 2021, we helped him print 5,000 copies through an off-set printer. 

Two years later, he called me.

"Mike, I sold all 5,000 books."

"Five thousand books?!?"

"Is that good?" he asked.

"That's not good—that's fantastic!" I replied.

Multiply 5,000 books by $12 profit per book.

He used the proceeds to publish three more books with Illumify. He wasn't concerned about making money. Alan was passionate about making a difference in the world.

AND. HE. DID! 

Let’s bring your book to life!