ACX Royalty Changes Are Here | Self-Publishing News (May 8, 2026)

Audible is rolling out a new ACX royalty model, and indie authors need to understand what's changing. We'll cover the new audiobook royalty rates, concerns around pooled payouts, Spotify for Authors distribution terms, IngramSpark metadata research, AI audiobook tools, and author scams. Stay informed before you make your next publishing move.

• Dibbly Create - https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate (affiliate link)
• Audible's New Royalty Model Screws Authors - https://open.substack.com/pub/selfpub/p/audiblegate2?r=1nx44v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
• ACX: Audible's New Royalty Model - https://help.acx.com/s/article/audible-s-new-royalty-model
• Spotify for Authors Opt-In Audiobook Distribution Terms - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/spotify-for-authors-opt-in-distribution-terms/ 
• IngramSpark: Study Finds Improved Metadata Could Boost Sales by Up to 9%* - https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/study-finds-improved-metadata-could-boost-sales-by-up-to-9-percent 

Rapid-Fire Newsflash

• Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com
• Spoken - https://spoken.press
• Spoken: Become a Producer - https://www.spoken.press/producers
• GeniusLink - https://DaleLinks.com/Genius (affiliate link) 
• StoryVox (beta) - https://storyvox.app/
• D2D's Self-Publishing Insiders: Scammers are Coming for You! - https://www.youtube.com/live/2EPOnKdNNDY?si=VLm5hPmpPA1httTl
• This Scam Could Cost Authors Real Money - https://youtu.be/pEbnC9PRGgw?si=RUNcHKkoekTMvgf- 
• Electric Lit: Author AI Scams Bingo - https://electricliterature.com/author-ai-scams-bingo/

 

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- Dale L. Roberts