2015 Audie Award

2015 Audie Award. The 2015 Audie Awards, presented by the Audio Publishers Association, honored the finest audiobooks published in the United States in 2014. The gala ceremony was held on May 28, 2015, at the historic New York Public Library in New York City. Winners were selected across a diverse array of categories, recognizing achievements in narration, production, and content, with the prestigious Audiobook of the Year award going to a standout title.

Overview

The awards celebrated excellence in the rapidly growing audiobook industry, with submissions from major publishers like Penguin Random House Audio, HarperAudio, and Simon & Schuster Audio. The judging process involved hundreds of volunteers from across the United States, including librarians, reviewers, and industry professionals. The event highlighted the increasing artistic and commercial significance of spoken-word entertainment, coinciding with the rise of digital platforms such as Audible.com and iTunes. Notable trends included strong performances in fiction categories and innovative multi-voice productions.

Winners and finalists

The coveted Audiobook of the Year was awarded to *Yes Please* by Amy Poehler, narrated by the author with guest appearances by figures like Carol Burnett and Kathleen Turner, and produced by HarperAudio. Other major winners included *The Graveyard Book* by Neil Gaiman, which won in the Children's Titles for Ages 8-12 category, and *The Martian* by Andy Weir, narrated by R.C. Bray, which won for Science Fiction. Finalists across categories showcased a wide range, from literary fiction like *All the Light We Cannot See* by Anthony Doerr to nonfiction such as *Not That Kind of Girl* by Lena Dunham. The company Audible.com received numerous nominations and wins for its original productions.

Categories

The 2015 awards featured over two dozen categories, encompassing diverse genres and technical achievements. Key fiction categories included Fiction, won by *The Secret Place* by Tana French, and Literary Fiction, awarded to *The Snow Queen* by Michael Cunningham. Non-fiction honors included History/Biography, won by *Washington: A Life* by Ron Chernow, and Business/Personal Development, awarded to *Creativity, Inc.* by Ed Catmull. Performance-based awards included Best Female Narrator for Katherine Kellgren's work on *The Wild Rover* and Best Male Narrator for Simon Vance's narration of *The Churchill Factor*. Specialized categories like Audio Drama and Multi-Voiced Performance recognized unique production values.

Ceremony and presenters

The ceremony was hosted at the iconic New York Public Library's Celeste Bartos Forum, with Roman Mars, host of the podcast 99% Invisible, serving as the master of ceremonies. Presenters included prominent authors and narrators such as Neil Gaiman, Diane Rehm of WAMU, and actor John Lithgow. The event was attended by key figures from the publishing industry, including representatives from Hachette Audio, Macmillan Audio, and the American Library Association. The evening included a reception sponsored by industry partners, celebrating the collaborative spirit between narrators, producers, and publishers.

Significance and impact

The 2015 ceremony underscored the audiobook's evolution into a major literary and performance art form, significantly influenced by digital distribution. Wins for titles like *The Martian* highlighted how audiobooks could enhance genre fiction, contributing to the novel's broader cultural impact and subsequent film adaptation. The recognition of performer-driven categories emphasized the critical role of narrators like Jim Dale and Julia Whelan. The awards also reflected the growing market share of downloadable audio, with platforms like Audible.com and OverDrive becoming essential for libraries and consumers, shaping future publishing strategies for entities like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins.

Category:Audie Awards Category:2015 awards in the United States Category:2015 in literature