Get your next Audio Book produced by 2RPH

Faced with cuts in government support to their station, community broadcaster Radio 2RPH has moved forward to develop an alternative income resource: production of Audio books.

 
“This business idea hit all the right notes for us,” says Maria Issaris (below left) who as Deputy Chair, brought the idea to the Board and General Manager, Sancha Donald.
 
“We are a radio reading station, we have been reading books for decades on air, plus I knew there was a dearth of audio book production facilities in the publishing industry,” said Ms Issaris, who has been producing a program on new writers, New Voice. The program was a finalist in the CBAA Best new Program 2020. 
 
“I knew from my experience in the publishing sector that Audio books are the major way readers are consuming books. And that wonderful new writers were increasingly being required to self-publish as a ‘stepping stone’ to a publishing contract. Audio is usually out of reach for them – and too expensive. We have now developed a service which makes it as affordable as print.’”
 
During production of New Voices she also became aware of the effects of COVID on the performance fraternity. 
 
“I interviewed Lex Marinos, Paul Capsis and Joseph Tawadros – all highly acclaimed Australian performers, and they gave gruelling descriptions of the severity of the Covid on their community – particularly when they were classed as non-essential workers.” (Note: the New Voices program format includes a blind-review of new writers’ work by more established creatives). 
 
“The more I looked into it – the better and brighter this idea became,” she said. “Assisting emerging writers get their books heard, promoting the skills, talent and resources of our community of creatives as well as providing up-skilling? It was perfect.” 
 
The triall to this point however has not been a walk in the park! A year of research and trialling the process followed. 
 
“Sancha Donald and I worked tirelessly,” says Maria. “Calculations, trial and error, coming across unforeseen obstacles! But the vision was clear and we successfully produced 2 full anthologies with another two books nearing completion.”
 
Audio Book Productions, 2RPH, is now ready to soft launch. “I want us to keep true to our NFP ethics and provide a personal and accessible service which gives all parties a sense of dignity and autonomy,” says Ms Issaris, who has taken on the role of Head, Audio Books to help establish the business for 2RPH. 

 
 

 


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