At a lively Audies Gala on June 1, Hamilton: The Revolution (Hachette Audio) took home the top prize: it was named audiobook of the year. At the awards ceremony, conducted by the Audio Publishers Association and held at the French Institute Alliance Française in Manhattan, prizes were given in 27 categories. Publishers, producers, narrators, and judges of the award filled the auditorium. Comedian Paula Poundstone emceed the event for the second year in row.
Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda with cultural critic Jeremy McCarter, is a behind-the-scenes look at Miranda’s groundbreaking Broadway musical. In addition to the authors, the audiobook is read by actor Mariska Hargitay, the longtime star of NBC’s Law and Order SVU and a proclaimed superfan of the musical. “Just as the musical has expanded the audience for musical theater, this audiobook has won new fans to the world of audiobooks,” the award’s judges said in a statement.
Anthony Goff, senior v-p of content development and audio publisher at Hachette Audio, accepted the award alongside several members of his staff. “We’ve been fortunate enough to win this award four times in the past 10 years,” he told PW after the event. “It’s a testament to the excellence of the dedicated Hachette Audio team and the true quality and diversity of titles that Hachette Book Group brings to readers and listeners.” Goff said HBG has seen “a massive bump” in sales since the award and is confident audio units sales will be in the six figures in the next year.
Tavia Gilbert took home the prize for best female narrator for her work on Julia Claiborne Johnson’s Be Frank with Me (HarperAudio), a debut novel about a reclusive writer and her eccentric nine-year-old son, Frank.
The award for best male narrator went to Simon Vance for his rendering of Alan Moore’s 1,266 page novel, Jerusalem (Recorded Books), which clocks in at over 60 hours. Vance thanked Recorded Books for the opportunity to work with Moore, whom he described as “a man with the most incredible imagination and the brain the size of a several planets.”
A Listing of the Rest of the Audie Winners
Audio Drama
In the Embers by Brian Price and Jerry Stearns
Narrated by Robin Miles, Edwin Strout, Dean Johnson, and a full cast
Great Northern Audio Theatre
Autobiography/Memoir
The Greatest: My Own Story by Muhammad Ali, with Richard Durham
Narrated by Dion Graham
Graymalkin Media
Business/Personal Development
Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth and Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Jerry Kaplan
Narrated by John Pruden
Tantor Media
Erotica
Marriage Games by C.D. Reiss
Narrated by Sebastian York and Elena Wolfe
Flip City Media
Fantasy
The Hike by Drew Magary
Narrated by Christopher Lane
Brilliance
Fiction
Sister of Mine by Sabra Waldfogel
Narrated by Bahni Turpin
Brilliance
History/Biography
In Harm’s Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton
Narrated by Mark Boyett
Audible Studios
Humor
I’m Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi
Narrated by the author
Macmillan Audio
Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction
Risen: The Novelization of the Major Motion Picture by Angela Hunt
Narrated by P.J. Ochlan and Alana Kerr Collins
Christianaudio
Inspirational/Faith-Based Nonfiction
The Awakening of H.K. Derryberry by Jim Bradford and Andy Hardin
Narrated by Milton Bagby
Thomas Nelson
Literary Fiction & Classics
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Narrated by Dominic Hoffman
Penguin Random House Audio
Mystery
The Crossing by Michael Connelly
Narrated by Titus Welliver
Hachette Audio
Nonfiction
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Narrated by the author
HarperAudio
Original Work
The Dispatcher by John Scalzi
Narrated by Zachary Quinto
Audible Studios
Paranormal
Ghost Gifts by Laura Spinella
Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella
Brilliance
Romance
Dirty by Kylie Scott
Narrated by Andi Arndt
Macmillan Audio
Science Fiction
Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster
Narrated by Marc Thompson
Penguin Random House Audio
Short Stories/Collections
The Brink: Stories by Austin Bunn
Narrated by Austin Bunn, Luke Daniels, Tanya Eby, Ralph Lister, Amy McFadden, Mikael Naramore, and Nick Podehl
Blunder Woman Productions via ACX
Thriller/Suspense
Cross Justice by James Patterson
Narrated by Ruben Santiago Hudson and Jefferson Mays
Hachette Audio
Young Listeners (Up to Age 8)
28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Narrated by Dion Graham, William Jackson Harper, Zainab Jah, January LaVoy, Robin Miles, Lizan Mitchell, Jonathan Earl Peck, and Carter Woodson Redwood
Live Oak Media
Middle Grade
How to Train Your Dragon: How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury by Cressida Cowell
Narrated by David Tennant
Hachette Audio
Young Adult
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Narrated by Jorjeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris, and Michael Crouch
Listening Library
Narration By The Author Or Authors
A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston
Narrated by the author
Simon & Schuster Audio
Multivoiced Performance
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Narrated by Audra McDonald, Cassandra Campbell, and Ari Fliakos
Penguin Random House Audio
Excellence In Design
Geek Feminist Revolution: Essays on Subversion, Tactical Profanity, and the Power of Media by Kameron Hurley
Narrated by C.S.E. Cooney
Design by Jessica Daigle
HighBridge Audio
Excellence In Marketing
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 by L. Ron Hubbard
Narrated by Josh Clark, Scott Menville, Jim Meskimen, Phil Proctor, Stefan Rudnicki, Fred Tatasciore, and a full cast
Galaxy Audio
Excellence In Production
Alien: Out of the Shadows: An Audible Original Drama by Tim Lebbon and Dirk Maggs
Narrated by Rutger Hauer, Corey Johnson, Matthew Lewis, Kathryn Drysdale, Laurel Lefkow, Andrea Deck, and Mac McDonald
Audible Studios
