Because Amazon, Audible and iTunes dominate the current audiobook market, the exclusive distribution model, entitling authors to 40% of the sale price with these retailers, is the most popular choice. Another benefit of this model is that author’s are entitled to up to 100 promo codes (50 from the UK and 50 from the US) that can be used by influencers/friends/family in order to download the audiobook via audible.com for free.
The drawback of exclusive distribution is that it doesn’t allow authors to use other distribution platforms to sell/give away their audiobook.
The biggest benefit of non-exclusive distribution is the freedom it gives authors to distribute their audiobook. As new competitors enter the market, authors with no exclusive ties to Amazon, Audible and iTunes will be best positioned to take advantage of new platforms available to them. One downside, other than the lower royalties authors will earn, is that authors signing up for non-exclusivity will not receive promotional codes for their book to be redeemed at audible.com
At Tellwell, we don’t recommend one option over the other as it entirely depends on the authors’ needs and goals. The good news is it’s possible (though not guaranteed) that authors can switch programs within the seven year distribution agreement, so the choice needn’t be as daunting as it might seem.