Audio Business of the Year
The winner and shortlist for the Audio Business of the Year category at The British Audio Awards. Supported by London Book Fair
For the most successful, innovative, and forward thinking audio business working on audio in the books and theatrical space.
Winner
Yoto
Ben Drury
Yoto was a standout winner of the award in its first year. Founded in 2017 by Ben Drury and Filip Denker, its trajectory over the past few years has been extraordinary. The company has gone from a promising startup to a major player in the global audio industry, reaching millions of children worldwide. Yoto’s 2023 turnover nearly doubled (£50.9m up from £27.6m), and in 2024 it jumped 86% to £94.8m.
Yoto has been named among the Sunday Times Top 20 Fastest Growing Companies 2024; the second Fastest Growing Tech Company in the UK in the Deloitte Fast 50 2023; Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in 2024; and Bloomberg’s 25 UK Startups to Watch in 2023.
Yoto is making audio, licensing audio, and most important owns the devices on which is played. This three-pronged approach makes it a serious player in a rapidly developing market.
It is also staying true to its principles. It has launched a new literacy initiative with Bonnier, called Start with a Story, which encourages pupils to write their own audiobooks. "We think that there is a lot you can do with kids’ audio in a way that is beneficial to children, to help with vocabulary, learning and listening,” co-founder Ben Drury recently told The Bookseller.
Shortlist
Default Step
Boldwood
Amanda Ridout
Since launching in 2019, Boldwood has published every title in 10 formats globally, including four audio formats, making audio central to its strategy. With 1.5k titles and 3M audio units sold, Boldwood collaborates with award-winning narrators to ensure quality. Audio is released simultaneously with other formats, marketed widely, and made accessible through DAISY editions contributing over 15% of turnover and growing rapidly year-on-year.
Hachette UK (Group Audio and Bookouture)
Hachette UK
Richard Kitson (deputy CEO), Rebecca Folland (group rights and audio director)
2024 was Hachette UK’s biggest audio year yet, with 12 million downloads—a 32% year-on-year increase and continued double-digit growth since 2011. The new HUK Group Audio team oversees audio across nine divisions, supported by Bookouture’s separate digital-focused team. With 24 dedicated audio roles, in-house and global studio partnerships, and over 1,700 titles published annually, Hachette is one of the UK’s leading audiobook publishers.
Small Wardour
Carla Herbertson, David Smith
Small Wardour is the UK’s first dedicated children’s audio consultancy and production company. Founded in 2022 by Carla Herbertson and David Smith, it supports publishers, platforms, and brands in creating, launching, and monetising thoughtful, high-quality audio for children. With a growing London-based team, they combine global consultancy, original productions, and strategic guidance, putting young listeners at the heart of every story, and championing children’s audio worldwide.
Spiracle Audiobooks
Kate Bland
Spiracle is transforming the audiobook market with innovation and a human-led, bookshop-inspired approach. Awarded FutureBook Startup of the Year 2024, Spiracle pioneered the Audiobook in a Card format, expanding access through independent bookshops. By curating diverse, ethical collections, Spiracle challenges Big Tech dominance, reshaping audiobook discovery and championing independent publishers and voices worldwide.
Big Finish Productions
Hachette UK
Jason Haigh-Ellery
Founded in 1998, Big Finish Productions is a leading force in audio drama, producing over 200 hours of original content annually. With end-to-end in-house production, from script to distribution, they craft high-quality full-cast dramas and audiobooks. Known for Doctor Who, they blend veteran and emerging talent, embrace remote recording, and explore live shows, pushing the boundaries of audio storytelling for a global audience.
WF Howes
RBmedia
Miles Stevens-Hoare
W. F. Howes, part of RBmedia, is a leading UK audiobook publisher with 26 years of experience and over 9,000 titles. Known for quality and innovation, it reported 30% sales growth in 2024-25, adding 1,061 new titles. The company secured major author deals, expanded into sci-fi, romance, and literary fiction, and enhanced productions with immersive sound, solidifying its status as a top independent audiobook publisher.
Penguin Audio
Philipp Bartscher
Penguin publishes over 1,000 new audiobooks annually, dominating Audible’s charts with 8 of the Top 20 titles in 2024. Their audiobooks are available on 18 retailers and libraries, including RNIB and schools. A passionate, in-house team manages all production, earning multiple awards. With a world-class studio and innovative marketing, Penguin balances market leadership with nimble creativity, continuously growing audiences and championing diverse voices.
xigxag
Hachette UK
Kelli Fairbrother
Xigxag, founded by audiobook lovers frustrated with big tech mediocrity, has grown 400% in two years, serving listeners in 60 countries. Known for innovation and collaboration, it champions underserved audiences like digital natives and ethical consumers. With a passionate five-person team, Xigxag prioritizes exceptional user experiences, authentic engagement, and community-building, standing out as a B Corp and Ethical Consumer Best Buy in audiobooks.
Yoto
Ben Drury
Yoto was founded in 2017 by Ben Drury and Filip Denker, inspired by Montessori principles and the idea that children should have autonomy over their entertainment. Yoto’s trajectory over the past few years has been nothing short of extraordinary. The company has gone from a promising startup to a major player in the global audio industry, reaching millions of children worldwide.
