Vinyl Audiobook Series launches today with David Foster Wallace Release
Forthcoming titles are set to include HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION, and work from Jerry
Garcia, Nelson Mandela, Amanda Palmer, Steve Jones, Wayne Kramer, and David Sedaris
New York, NY (Feb. 27, 2018)—Hachette Audio, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, today
exclusively announced via Billboard that it will produce a series of vinyl + digital audio titles in 2018
starting with the release of David Foster Wallace’s This Is Water, which is available today in two
limited collector’s editions. 1500 of these records feature a blue-and- white water-inspired design for online orders, while 500 have been pressed on orange vinyl, which will be available in
independent book and record stores. The vinyl series will be distributed and product managed by Wax Audio Group, an independent record label that specializes in unique vinyl releases.
According to Anthony Goff, SVP & Publisher of Hachette Audio, “As we’ve all seen recently reported
across major media, the dramatic and sustained rise of audiobooks continues, so there is no better
time than now to expand our catalog with an audio format that has seen amazing resurgence with a
greater dedication of retail space and online merchandising. Though we published our first vinyl
record, David Sedaris’s Live For Your Listening Pleasure, in 2010, we’re thrilled to be able to
announce a new, more extensive publishing partnership with Wax Audio Group, and a full list of A-
list releases planned through 2018.”
“On the business side it’s rare that a new vertical presents itself and even rarer that it is such a
collectible and tactile format. Vinyl audiobooks bridge the gap between retail book and record stores but more than anything else, it’s cool and when you have something you’re proud to be a part of — it’s the most rewarding part of any release,” added David Bason of Wax Audio Group.
This is Water originated from a commencement speech given by Wallace at Kenyon College on May
21, 2005, and was later published in book form as This Is Water: “Some Thoughts, Delivered on a
Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life.” Time magazine has ranked it among the
best commencement speeches ever delivered. Other titles confirmed for vinyl release this year
include Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin Manuel-Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Jerry on Jerry by
Jerry Garcia, edited by Dennis McNally, Lonely Boy by Steve Jones, The Art of Asking by
Amanda Palmer, The Hard Stuff by Wayne Kramer, Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales
and multiple titles from David Sedaris. All of these releases will also include complementary digital
download codes for the full version of the audiobook (for titles too long to fit on one or two LPs).
“The Coalition of Independent Music stores is very excited to be partnering with Wax Audio Group
and Hachette Book Group in the release of audiobooks on vinyl. With the resurgence of the vinyl
format we think the day has come for spoken word records to find their place in the modern record
store and bookstore alike. The caliber of artists surfacing through our partnership is unbelievable
and a real representation of the power of the modern author to reach a new and bigger audience
through a format that is both historical and ground breaking at the same time.” -Michael Bunnell,
Executive Director, Coalition of Independent Music Stores
“There’s a new opportunity to curate a unique offering on vinyl that appeals to the fan and collector
that is crossing over between these two listening experiences. This is especially true when you add
exclusive content, limited editions, and the incredibly high production value that is the touchstone of an important publisher such as Hachette Book Group.” – Jeff Bowers, Wax Audio Group
“Think Indie is thrilled to be teaming up with WAX Audio and Hachette Book Group—we’re looking
forward to connecting the world of audiobook lovers with the world of vinyl lovers. The possibilities
are endless for this format and we think these releases are going to make fans of the authors
extremely happy and allow our company to broaden its reach into the marketplace and help bring
vinyl into outlets that have never offered it to their customers before.” – Scott Register, Think Indie
Distribution
About Hachette Book Group
Hachette Book Group is a leading trade publisher based in New York and a division of Hachette Livre, the third-largest trade and educational publisher in the world. Hachette Audio is a publisher of a variety of popular genres in audio form, which matches HBG material with talented actors, composers, and producers to find its fullest expression. Their audiobooks are primarily based on material published in print and online by Grand Central Publishing, Little, Brown & Company, FaithWords, Center Street, Orbit, JIMMY Patterson, Hachette Books, Black Dog & Leventhal, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Perseus, and have been recognized for the highest quality of content and production with numerous GRAMMY, Audie, Listen Up! And Earphone awards. Unabridged and abridged titles are available on CD and as digital downloads.
Hachette Book Group
@HachetteAudio
Hachette Audio Press Contact: Megan Fitzpatrick
megan.fitzpatrick@hbgusa.com
212.364.1329
About Wax Audio Group
Wax Audio Group is an independent record label and brand offshoot of the Wax Record Fair (established in partnership with Capitol Music Group in 2015) who specializes in unique vinyl releases for book, music, and lifestyle retail. Wax Audio Group is a brand unit of the WAX family of companies, established in cooperation with Think Indie to produce and distribute unique audio productions for fans of the vinyl format.
Wax Audio Group
@WaxAudioGroup
Wax Audio Group Press Contact: Daniel Gill
Daniel@forcefieldPR.com
818.331.0830