The Audie Awards (, rhymes with "gaudy"; abbreviated from audiobook), or simply the Audies, are awards for achievement in spoken word, particularly audiobook narration and audiodrama performance, published in the United States of America. They are presented by the Audio Publishers Association (APA) annually in March. The Audies are sometimes likened to the Academy Awards for their public recognition of merit in the audio industry. In order to win, works must be submitted for nomination. A panel of judges considers candidates based on consumer acceptance, sales performance, and marketing, and winners and finalists are chosen based on narration, production quality, and source content; formerly packaging was also evaluated.

Awards

Twenty-five Audies are currently awarded by the Audio Publishers' Association. The APA presently categorizes the awards as follows: Numerous other awards have been discontinued or merged since the Audies' inception in 1996.

Special awards

Special Achievement

Special Industry Achievement

Judge's Award

Hall of Fame

Audie Awards galas

The Audie Awards gala is the annual awards ceremony during which most of the Audie Awards are presented. It is hosted by the Audio Publishers Association and features a guest master of ceremonies (emcee), usually a notable figure in the world of audiobook narration or a celebrity audiobook enthusiast. Initially the Audies were handed out during a casual afternoon hosted by an industry insider. […] Now it's a formal evening, with cocktails beforehand and Champagne and dessert afterward. The Audiobook of the Year award was not presented before 2004.