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Self-Publishing | With ALLi Podcast | News Analysis & | Commentary | Dan Holloway | SelfPublishingAdvice.org/podcast

News Podcast: Amazon’s New Algorithm Shakes Up Book Discoverability While Substack Offers Steadier Path for Authors

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway takes a close look at Amazon’s new book discovery algorithm and how it may be impacting indie authors’ visibility and sales stability. He contrasts the uncertainty of platform-dependent publishing with the growing reliability of direct sales, particularly through Substack, where income trends show consistent returns for authors building engaged readerships. Dan explains what these shifts mean for indie authors trying to build sustainable careers in a changing marketplace.
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Self-Publishing | With ALLi Podcast | News Analysis & | Commentary | Proudly | Sponsored By | PublishMe | Dan Holloway | S…

News Podcast: SelfPubCon Highlights Direct-to-Reader Trends, Spotify Launches New Audiobook Selects Platform

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway recaps key takeaways from SelfPubCon2025, where authors focused less on AI and more on direct connections with readers through email lists, crowdfunding, and special editions that reflect an artisanal, aesthetic-driven approach. He also reports that Spotify is launching Audiobook Selects, a new platform for indie authors, beginning with romance-themed submissions featuring “swoon-worthy” tropes like friends-to-lovers and grumpy/sunshine pairings.
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Self-Publishing | With ALLi Podcast | News Analysis & | Commentary | Dan Holloway | SelfPublishingAdvice.org/podcast

News Podcast: Baker & Taylor to Close, Spotify Links with ChatGPT, Reedsy Launches New No-AI Writing Challenge

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reports on the closure of Baker & Taylor, the century-old book distributor that will shut down in 2026, leaving a gap that companies like Ingram and Amazon may fill. He also notes Spotify’s new integration with ChatGPT, assuring creators that their music and podcasts won’t be used to train AI. In other news, Reedsy has launched the Reedsy Novel Sprint, a NaNoWriMo-style writing challenge with cash prizes and no AI allowed, as the original NaNoWriMo organization shutters.
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Alliance Of Independent Authors | Self-Publishing News | October 16, 2025 | With Dan Holloway

News Summary: Baker & Taylor Closure Reshapes Library Supply; Frankfurt Fair Opens Ahead of SelfPubCon 25

The last story I ran last week broke right at the time of writing, meaning there was little time to include much detail. (Well, both did: the Nobel Prize announcement was made about two and a half minutes before I filed with Howard, but while I love its drama, it is not, sadly, indie-oriented enough to warrant a larger unpacking here.)
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Alliance Of Independent Authors | Self-Publishing News | October 14, 2025 | With Dan Holloway

News Summary: Spotify Clarifies ChatGPT Integration; AI Video App Sora Sparks Debate

Spotify’s relationship with AI feels as though it has become increasingly— for want of a better phrase—a slightly edgy one. The company is, first and foremost, a tech company rather than an arts company. Daniel Ek was a coder before anything else and has always taken the company in a direction that favors innovation. On the other hand, Spotify is passionate about working with creative people—nowhere more so than when it comes to writers.
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