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A new pop-up store in New York is reimagining the traditional bookshop without a single printed book on the shelves.
Inside Audible Story House, every story is experienced through sound.
Designed as a cultural clubhouse for listening, the Big Apple audio space gives visitors the chance to listen to hundreds of their favorite titles through headphones or relax in dedicated listening lounges.
Audible says the space aims to reflect the rapidly increasing popularity of the format as well as the “shift toward offline experiences and real-world connection.”
James Finn, Audible’s Global Head of Brand & Content Marketing said: “We’re seeing audiobooks gaining a lot of momentum. BookTok is a significant driver of that, it is a community on TikTok where those that are interested in either authors or genres are really introducing new audiences to that space. And even book clubs and bookstores have a bit of a renaissance right now as well.”
Downstairs, visitors can sit inside an immersive Dolby Atmos listening lounge, where sound experiences are played through surround sound speakers.
Audible is also promising to constantly assess new books and trending titles to make its collection a reflection of what audiences are listening to now.
“The idea is we’ll have sessions where there will be sound baths so people can go in there and use it as a way in the afternoon to have a bit of a relaxation before they go back to work, or they can fully immerse themselves into something like ‘Harry Potter.’ So there will be scheduled sessions throughout the month,” added Finn.
Audiobook sales reached €2 billion in the United States in 2024, nearly doubling over the past five years, according to the Audio Publishers Association.
The pop-up is open through the month from Wednesday through Sunday, as Audible bets the future of books may not always involve turning pages.
Video editor • Yolaine De Kerchove Dexaerde
Additional sources • AFP