RBmedia

RBmedia has been a private-equity-backed platform since its formation. The firm was previously a portfolio company of KKR until September 2023, when it was sold to H.I.G. Capital and Francisco Partners in a joint acquisition. It operates as a standard corporate entity, pooling the operations of multiple acquired audiobook production imprints.

RBmedia generates revenue primarily by licensing its catalog of tens of thousands of audiobook titles to retailers and institutional platforms. It does not typically sell directly to consumers; instead, its titles appear on services like Audible, Apple Books, and library apps such as Libby via OverDrive. The firm also produces new audiobooks on a work-for-hire or revenue-share basis for traditional publishers.

RBmedia acts as a neutral content supplier to Audible, Apple Books, Google Play, and other digital audiobook retailers. It supplies finished audiobook files under commercial licensing agreements, allowing those platforms to sell or stream the content to their own users. RBmedia does not compete with these distributors by operating its own consumer-facing storefront.

RBmedia built its catalog through sequential acquisitions of independent audiobook publishers and production studios. By rolling up smaller spoken-word labels, the firm consolidated a broad library spanning genres such as science fiction, fantasy, romance, and business non-fiction. It continues to expand the catalog by producing new recordings under contract with authors and traditional book publishers.

RBmedia operates a vertically integrated audiobook production pipeline. It manages casting, narration, recording direction, editing, and mastering across its network of imprints and studios. This control over production quality and rights management supports its position as a reliable, high-volume supplier to major distribution platforms.