Your audiobook deserves a team that cares as much as you do.
“WE GOT YOU.”
Audiobook Production & Recording Services
Full-service audiobook production for independent publishers and authors — including casting, recording, post-production, distribution, and marketing — trusted by major publishers and award-winning creators.
Complete Audiobook Production, Distribution and Marketing, or just one of the pieces,
we can help bring your project to life.
Whether you’re looking for complete audiobook production, help with a specific stage, or expert support to complement work already in progress, John Marshall Media is built to meet you where you are. We regularly step in at any point in the process—from casting and recording to editing, quality control, distribution, and launch support. Some projects come to us fully formed; others begin with a single question. Either way, our role is the same: to bring clarity, consistency, and care to the work, and to make sure every piece fits together seamlessly in the end.
Our work spans traditional audiobooks, children’s titles, immersive and dramatic audio and Spanish-language audiobooks — all held to the same exacting standards that define our spoken-word work.
SAY HI TO THE HUMANS OF JMM.
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John Marshall Cheary III
Founder & CEO
John wants to be a rock star when he grows up and swears his superpower is smelling into the future.
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Zane Birdwell
Senior Producer
When Zane is not working, you can find him at a Phish concert, writing a new song, or on the hunt for the perfect tomato...
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Kevin Stillwell
Head of Indie production and distribution
Kevin is saving his money for a full-body tattoo of himself, only taller and better looking.
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Vassilya Dainwood
Producer/Casting Specialist
Vassilya is driven by a simple goal: to live kindly and stay happy.
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Kevin Fecu
COO
When Kevin is not working, you can find him barbecuing (often with his BBQ smoker), being the home DJ (even if it's for no audience), and being an "Uber Dad" for his kids travel sports teams (his rating is 3 1/2 stars because he critiques every game).
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Robin Lai
svp | custom shop - head
Robin loves good food and his coworkers like to poke fun at how much he can eat.
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Cameron Potts
VP, Audiobook Production
Cameron’s mantra at the moment is - Details aren’t small — they’re the whole thing.
Trusted by the industry’s best
Many of our clients have been with us for over 30 years. We’d like to think they stay because of what we offer beyond great audio—reliability, collaboration, and a team that treats every project as its own.
What Our Customers Are Saying
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![A man with glasses and short hair smiling, with server racks or electronic equipment in the background, and a Disney logo in the bottom right corner.]()
"John Marshall Media brought it home... project, after project, after project."
NICK PECK, DISNEY PUBLISHING
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![A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black and white striped top.]()
“JMM was such a pleasure to work with on our first audiobook series..."
CARLOTTA BRENTAN, FABLER AUDIO
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![Close-up photo of a man with light brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard, wearing a blue shirt, with a background in a neutral color. A logo featuring red flames over blue water with the text "Harper Collins" is in the lower right corner.]()
"JMM is the pinnacle of professionalism... client focused, always on time..."
NATHAN ROSBOROUGH, HARPER COLLINS
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![Capstone logo with white text on a purple background.]()
“We have been working with JMM for 10 years. They always consistently deliver.”
CAPSTONE PUBLISHING
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![A man with glasses and a white beard in an indoor setting with shelves of books behind him.]()
"Nobody in the industry makes better audiobooks than John Marshall Media...
DAVID WILK, BOOKTRIX
Full-Service Audiobook Production
Making an audiobook can feel daunting—it’s complicated, and every step in the process matters to the outcome. We understand that. It’s our job to take care of you through the entire process, so you’re never left guessing or worrying that something important is being missed.
We start by listening. We take the time to understand what your project means to you, where it came from, and what you want listeners to experience. Those early conversations guide everything we do—from whether the author should narrate the book to casting the right narrator. Casting is one of the most impactful decisions in the entire process, and we approach it with care. Once that’s decided, we move into recording.
Recording may take place in one of our studios, in a narrator’s home studio, at a trusted partner facility, or by shipping you a complete “JMM Studio-in-a-Box”. No matter the setup, we guarantee the recording will be outstanding. From there, we focus on the details that bring a book to life: pronunciation, character voices, accents, pacing, and intention.
Throughout recording, experienced directors and producers work closely with the narrator or author to ensure that everything discussed up front is carried faithfully through the production process. In editing and post-production, we’re just as careful—cleaning up technical details while preserving the heart, emotion, and intent of the performance.
At the end of the process, once editing and quality control are complete, your audiobook sounds exactly the way it should: engaging, polished, and emotionally true to the work. That’s why discerning publishers and authors trust John Marshall Media with their most important projects—because they know that when they hire JMM, it will be done right.
Immersive Audio & Dramatic Audio
(I know, it’s the same thing)
Multi-cast audio, full sound effects, music . . . a movie for your ears. We get excited just thinking about it. But the amount of work can be daunting - Script adaptation, multicast casting, scheduling and recording, post production, sound effects, music (original, library or hybrid). It’s about making the listener loose themselves in the experience. We’ve been producing titles like this for years. From Immersive Audiobooks like the blockbuster “American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition”, and 2025 Audie Award Winner “Medea me cantó un corrido”, to the hundreds of children’s & educational audiobooks and language teaching programs, we’ve amassed years of experience in learning how to make your next dramatic audiobook . . . dramatic!
Recording for Audiobooks
Our recording studios are purpose-built for audiobook recording. From ultra-quiet, fully isolated vocal booths to meticulously chosen microphones, signal chains, and digital capture systems, every detail is designed to capture the human voice with exceptional clarity, intimacy, and comfort. Just as important, our studios are run by experienced engineers and welcoming studio teams who understand what performers need to do their best work.
Click above to explore each studio
Mexico City
When Recording Outside Our Studios Makes Sense
While many audiobooks are recorded in JMM’s own purpose-built voice recording studios, there are times when another approach better serves the project. In those cases, we support recording in carefully vetted partner studios, approved home-studios for experienced narrators, or by shipping a complete JMM Studio-in-a-Box.
Every external setup is reviewed for acoustics, equipment, and reliability, and we stay closely involved throughout the process to ensure consistency with our standards. Whether recording happens in our facilities or elsewhere, the goal is always the same: a clean, intimate performance that sounds seamless from start to finish—and feels fully supported every step of the way.
Casting that Supports the Story
Casting is the most important decision in audiobook production—and one of the easiest to get wrong without guidance. Whether you’re looking to hire an audiobook narrator or considering narrating the book yourself, we help you make that decision with clarity and confidence.
We take the time to understand your book’s voice, audience, pacing, and emotional range before recommending a narrator. From seasoned professionals to author-read performances, we focus on finding the narrator voice that best serves the material—not just what’s convenient or familiar. The right casting choice sets the foundation for everything that follows.
Direction That Supports the Performance
Great audiobook performances don’t happen by accident. Although many of the most experienced narrators deliver fantastic performances, author who narratoe their own titles or less experienced narrators can benefit enormously with thoughtful direction that supports the narrator without interrupting their flow.
Our directors understand how to guide performances in a way that keeps narrators grounded in the text—tracking intention, character consistency, tone, and pacing throughout the recording process. Whether working with a first-time author or an experienced narrator, we know when to step in and when to stay out of the way so the performance remains natural, confident, and engaging.
Post-Production That Enhances the Performance
Editing an audiobook is about more than cleaning up audio—it’s about protecting the performance. Our audiobook editing services focus on clarity, consistency, and flow while preserving the emotion and intention captured during recording.
We handle pickups, pacing adjustments, dialogue continuity, and technical cleanup with care, ensuring that nothing feels over-processed or mechanical. The goal of our audiobook post-production process is simple: the listener should never notice the edit—only the story.
Post-Production
Quality Control & Technical Standards
Every audiobook we produce goes through a rigorous quality control process designed to catch issues and resolve them cleanly. From pronunciation checks and consistency reviews to full technical compliance, we make sure nothing slips through.
Our team stays current with platform-specific requirements and evolving standards, including Audible and ACX audiobook production guidelines and ACX alternatives, Spotify and many more, so your audiobook is delivered correctly the first time, and stand up to the audiobooks produced by the major publishers. The result is audio that meets technical expectations without compromising the listening experience.
Professional audiobook distribution is about more than launching—it’s about long-term visibility, discoverability, and sales across the platforms listeners actually use. With John Marshall Media’s audiobook distribution services, a single upload places your title on 100+ audiobook platforms worldwide, including Audible, Spotify, Everand, Apple Books, Google Play, and all major public library audiobook platforms.
Libraries remain one of the most important channels for audiobook discovery, and wide availability across retail and library ecosystems dramatically increases listening, sales, and longevity. The more places your audiobook is available, the more opportunities there are for listeners to find—and buy—it.
This wide-release strategy is also why many authors and publishers choose JMM as a trusted ACX alternative. ACX audiobook production and distribution requires exclusivity, limiting your audiobook to only Audible, who’s market share is shrinking every year. Our approach prioritizes worldwide audiobook distribution, ensuring your audiobook isn’t locked behind one storefront and can reach listeners wherever they choose to listen.
For authors with an existing audience, we also offer direct sales through the JMM Bookstore, where you can sell audiobooks directly to listeners, retain up to 70% of royalties, and run audiobook and ebook giveaways. This creates an additional revenue stream while giving you greater control over pricing, promotions, and audience relationships.
Beyond placement, we provide strategic guidance on audiobook distribution strategy, pricing considerations, platform selection, and metadata optimization for audiobooks—a critical factor in search visibility and long-term performance. Our goal isn’t just to help you sell audiobooks at launch, but to position your audiobook for sustained success across a global audiobook distribution network.
Distribution - Your Audiobook Sold Everywhere
ACX vs. JMM Audiobook Distribution (Quick Comparison)
What to know before choosing ACX exclusivity:
ACX exclusivity locks your audiobook to Audible for a fixed contract period
→ During that time, you cannot distribute anywhere elseThat means no access to:
Spotify
Apple Books
Google Play
Everand
Most public library platforms — and 100+ additional retail and library platforms
Public libraries matter
Many listeners discover and consume audiobooks primarily through library platforms. Exclusivity cuts you off from that audience entirely.Even Audible uses JMM distribution
For select Audible-produced titles, Audible itself distributes audiobooks beyond its own storefront to reach listeners it can’t reach alone.If you’re planning a major launch, exclusivity can work against you
Limiting availability during your most important sales window means you’re not giving yourself access to the full market.
JMM Audiobook Distribution offers a true ACX alternative—non-exclusive audiobook distribution designed for reach, flexibility, and long-term performance.
Marketing & Launch Support
Producing a great audiobook is only half the job. Once your audiobook is finished and distributed, people need to know it exists. With thousands of audiobooks released every year, visibility doesn’t happen by accident—it requires a thoughtful audiobook marketing strategy tailored to your audience, goals, and budget.
John Marshall Media works with a network of carefully vetted audiobook marketing partners who specialize in reaching listeners across retail platforms, subscription services, and library ecosystems. These partners have been tested over time, and we match them to your project based on genre, target market, distribution strategy, and long-term goals—not one-size-fits-all packages.
Marketing support may include launch planning, platform-specific promotions, pricing and timing strategy, metadata optimization to improve discoverability on major audiobook platforms, and guidance on how to drive listeners to retail, library, or direct-to-consumer sales. When appropriate, we also help authors leverage their existing audiences—email lists, social media, podcasts, or speaking engagements—to support audiobook sales and engagement.
Whether you’re looking to sell audiobooks broadly through global distribution, focus on library reach, or drive listeners to your own storefront, our role is to help you make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls. We don’t promise shortcuts—but we do help ensure your audiobook has the best possible chance to be found, heard, and remembered long after launch.
Spanish Audiobook Production
Professional Spanish audiobook production, recording, and narration for publishers and authors worldwide.
In 2018, John Marshall Media expanded into Latin America with dedicated studios and production teams focused on Spanish audiobook production. Since then, JMM LATAM has produced hundreds of Spanish audiobooks for major publishers, including award-winning titles, supporting the fastest-growing segment of the global audiobook market. Our roster includes hundreds of professional Spanish-language narrators representing regional accents and dialects from across Latin America and Spain, allowing for precise, culturally authentic casting on every project. Spanish audiobook recording at JMM follows the same rigorous standards as our English-language work—direction, recording, editing, quality control, and delivery are all handled using identical processes refined over decades. Publishers choose JMM LATAM because it offers professional Spanish audiobook production with the same consistency, accountability, and sound quality that define John Marshall Media worldwide.