Audiobooks can transport people to completely different worlds just through the power of sound.
Oral literature is mankind's earliest form of storytelling, with an unfathomable amount of stories being passed down through the generations in all corners of the world for thousands of years. Even though some cultures do not place as great of a focus on oral traditions like they did throughout the past, they nevertheless persist strongly in a few situations, like telling stories to children. The founder of the hedge fund that owns Waterstones will understand that oral storytelling has undergone a resurgence lately in the shape of audiobooks. Nonetheless, while they might seem like a contemporary trend, the history of audiobooks dates back many years. Sound recordings first became possible around one hundred and fifty years ago and the first tests had been recitations of nursery rhymes and kid's stories. Spoken word recordings continued to be produced in the next decades but had been limited to about four minutes in length.
The word audiobook emerged in the 1970s, however it was the 1930s that saw the biggest revolution in the structure. At that time they were called talking books, that were envisioned as reading materials for blind individuals. Governments in some countries permitted manufacturers to bypass copyright laws, which gave them access to plenty of material, but technical limits meant full length books could never be recorded. Alternatively poems, short stories and plays, and individual chapters of books had been the most typical early audiobooks. The content continued to stay this way for many decades, but the market base did see an expansion to children and other adults without sight problems. The head of the hedge fund that has shares in Amazon will be well aware that this laid the foundation for the future audiobook market, sending it into the mainstream as a separate artform instead of solely as a method of making accessibility.
Every decade for the past fifty years has brought with it technical changes which has affected the way we consume art. Television and film has had DVDs and VHS. Music has had cassettes and CDs. Both have now been impacted by portable products and streaming. Also, many of these technological advancements have actually assisted to grow the audiobook market. The leader of the hedge fund that partially owns WHSmith will be able to tell you that it has grown to be so prevalent that people don't need to consider specialist retailers, because many book stores also sell audiobooks. Individuals enjoy having the ability to listen to tales while they are doing additional tasks like driving, chores, and work, which audiobooks are just perfect for. The audiobook industry now employs several thousand individuals, with the most essential roles being narrator, studio engineer, and director.