Follow up to the Apple Books article. Read more about the concept called the disability tax and the types of people that benefit from audiobooks.
Audiobooks on Google Play UK Store can be on average 67.83% more expensive than its written counterpart. This disproportionately impacts customers with disabilities that wish to consume the same content in a different format. One solution is to make these the same price.
Audiobooks are an alternative format for accessibility
The disability tax is a concept where goods and services cost more if you’re disabled. An alternative format is a different format for the same content. Audio, braille, electronic or large print are all types of alternative format.
But anyone might purchase an audiobook, they’re not a disability-specific product?
Have you heard of ”the Curb-Cut Effect“?
This is the phenomenon of disability-friendly features being used and appreciated by a larger group than the people they were designed for. In the UK this is called a dropped kerb. While originally designed for people with disabilities, it benefits many more groups of people - people with bikes, those with buggies.
Dark mode is another accessibility feature that benefits a wider group of people.
If you are blind you have less choices to consume this content, an audiobook might be the only, more expensive, option available to you.
Reviewing the data
I compared the top 10 titles on Google Play Store UK for this month.
Google store places eBooks and Audiobooks in two different categories. So the top 10 were different for both types. As a result this data is looking at the top 10 Audiobooks and then their eBook counterparts.
Findings - audiobooks on average are 67.83% more expensive in the UK
67.83% more than the regular ebook version is not a small number. This is the aggregate average of these 10 titles. Without a promotional offer this actually jumps to 110.26%. It’s unclear how long this will run for.
In the US this figure is slightly lower at 58.9%
I also took a look at the US store, 58.9% more is slightly better than the UK. However without a promotional offer this is 120.27% more. The UK had an overall higher costs but the promotions were better in the US impacting the average price.
For the book “Unsafe: Damian longs for home, but one man stands in his way” it was 603% higher.
Why are audiobooks more expensive?
At its core it’s a type of ableism. A decision was made somewhere along the line that audiobooks would be more expensive without proper consideration for the types of people it negatively impacts.
What are the solutions?
One solution is that both formats should be the same price.
A better solution is to bundle them both into the same purchase. The customer is paying for the content, not the format.
An audiobook is an alternative format, a customer and a disabled customer should not have to pay extra money to consume the same content in a different format. Accessibility should be reflected in business decisions.
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The Data
Top 10 audiobooks in the UK in September 2023
- Unsafe: Damian longs for home, but one man stands in his way by Cathy Glass. eBook is £1.99, audiobook was £13.99 now £8.40.
- The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life by Steven Bartlett. eBook is £9.99 audiobook was £16.00 is now £14.99.
- Atomic Habits: the life-changing million-copy #1 bestseller. James Clear. eBook is £4.99, the audiobook was £12.00 is now £7.99.
- Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food … and Why Can’t We Stop? by Chris van Tulleken. eBook is £8.99 audiobook was £13.00 is now £9.99.
- None of This is True: The new psychological thriller from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. eBook is £7.99, the audiobook was £16.00 now £14.99.
- Spare by Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex. eBook is £13.99, audiobook was £20.00 now £14.99
- The Thursday Murder Club: (The Thursday Murder Club 1) by Richard Osman. eBook is £5.99,the audiobook was £13.00 now £9.99.
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life y Mark Manson. eBook is £6.99, the audiobook was £12.99 now £7.99.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. eBook is £4.99, the audiobook was £17.99 now £14.99.
- Shift: (Silo Trilogy 2) by Hugh Howey. eBook is £3.99, the audiobook was £12.00 now £7.99
- The average cost of eBooks for 10 titles £6.99
- The average cost of audiobooks is £14.7
The top 10 Audiobooks in the US in September 2023
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. eBook $14.99 the audiobook was $29.99, $19.95
- From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi (Star Wars) by Olivie Blake. eBook is $14.99. Audiobook was $25.00 now $16.95
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. eBook is $8.21 audiobook was $29.99 now 19.95
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear. eBook is 14.99, audiobook was $20.00 now $14.95
- Dead Mountain by Douglas Preston. eBook is $14.99, Audiobook $31.99 $23.95
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. eBook $16.99, audiobook was $23.07 now $14.95
- A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. eBook is $8.21, audiobook was $29.99 now $19.95
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. eBook is $8.21. Audiobook was $19.99 now $14.95
- A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas. eBook is $8.21, audiobook was $34.99 now $26.95
- After That Night by Karin Slaughter eBook is $8.21, audiobook was $24.95 now $14.95
- The average cost of eBooks for 10 titles $8.75
- The average cost of audiobooks is $13.47.
- Removing the promotional reduction that average audiobook is $25.99