ACX Launches AI Tool to Help Voice Artists: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
ACX, which connects authors and voice narrators to produce audiobooks for Audible, has become the latest platform to launch an “interesting” AI tool in beta.
ACX Introduces AI Tools for Voice Narrators, TikTok Fights US Ban, and Apple Faces EU Regulations: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway
On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway covers ACX’s new AI tool that lets voice narrators replicate their voices for audiobooks. He also discusses TikTok’s appeal against its potential US ban, Meta’s plan to train AI on public Facebook posts, and Apple’s compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which could affect the future of Apple Books.
Draft2Digital Releases Results of AI Survey, Promises No Licensing Opportunities for Now: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
As you will recall, Draft2Digital recently surveyed authors, asking for their thoughts on AI, and the results are now in. Possibly the most important announcement, and perhaps the most eagerly anticipated, is highlighted in yellow at the top of the page outlining the results. It states simply, in bold, “At this time, Draft2Digital will not offer AI rights licensing opportunities.”
Apple Opens iPad to Alternative App Stores and Meta Resurfaces AI Training Plans: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
Apple must allow alternative app stores on the iPad, thanks to the European Union’s (EU) Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA, alongside the Digital Services Act (DSA), is part of a raft of measures designed to ensure greater transparency and choice for consumers in an age of increasingly powerful tech behemoths. One of the key aims is to stop those who own large platforms from leveraging that platform to sell only their own products at the expense of others.
NaNoWriMo Faces a Backlash Over AI Writing Policy and Issues Response: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
NaNoWriMo has sparked controversy with its recent statement on the use of AI in writing for this year’s event. The organization faced backlash over its initial neutral stance and comments about classism and ableism, prompting a swift clarification.
NaNoWriMo Clarifies Position on AI Amid Author Backlash: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway
On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway discusses the controversy over NaNoWriMo’s recent statement, which initially claimed that condemning AI tools in writing had classist and ableist undertones. After backlash from the writing community, NaNoWriMo revised the statement to clarify their stance. Dan also talks about Canva’s price hike due to AI tool development and provides updates on legal battles involving the Internet Archive and a Spotify royalty scam involving AI-generated content.
Publishers Win Major Victory Against Internet Archive and Streaming Scam Case Breaks New Ground: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
The Internet Archive has been at the center of a long-running legal battle with publishers, and this week brings the latest development in that saga. Although it’s still vacation time here in Oxford, for much of the world, a new term is well underway, and it seems the courts have been equally busy.
Canva Gambles Customers Want Whizzy AI Tools More than Lower Prices: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
A recent recent price hike by Canva has sparked frustration among indie writers and creatives. This is a story I first came across on TechCrunch, and it piqued my interest. I have subsequently seen a few indie writers talking about it, some decidedly frustrated, so I figured it is definitely something worth bringing to your attention.
Happy 10th Birthday to Kindle Unlimited: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
I often find myself wondering, “Where did all the time go?” It feels like just yesterday I was blogging about the introduction of Kindle. So, the announcement that Kindle Unlimited is celebrating its tenth birthday makes me feel old. It also highlights how much self-publishing has become an integral part of the literary landscape. We are here to stay, and there’s no turning back.
Were Jobs Cut at Apple Books Because E-Books Aren’t Profitable Enough? The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway
On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explores whether Apple cut jobs at Apple Books because e-books aren’t generating enough profit. He also covers OpenAI’s $100 billion valuation, the Grammys allowing AI-generated content, and Bookshop.org’s plan to pay royalties to authors from second-hand book sales.
Apple Books Cuts Jobs While Grammy Awards Prepare to Accept Entries That Use AI: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
Apple has always felt like a strange player in the digital book market. They turned the music industry upside down with the iTunes Store, and when they introduced Apple Books, they might have thought they would do the same to the publishing industry. Kindle books had already made the major disruption, but the introduction of the iPad held out the promise of being the market-winning book replacement. But it wasn’t to be.
Bookshop.org to Buy Back Secondhand Books and Pay Authors: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
The first set of stories this week really does feel like it illustrates an increasing momentum for what I have been calling the artisanal and the analogue. I have two stories about print books, including secondhand books, but very much not on the standard “print sales are rising/falling/insert other verb.”