Lydbokforlaget

Lydbokforlaget was a Norwegian publisher dedicated to audiobooks, established in 1987 in Melhus by special educators Herborg Hongset and Hilde Nyseth. It was owned in equal shares by a founder group and the three publishing houses Aschehoug, Gyldendal, and Damm. The company opened an Oslo department in 1995 and moved its headquarters from Melhus to Oslo in 2013. Revenue grew from NOK 17.5 million in 2001 to over NOK 54 million in 2006, and was around NOK 40 million in 2013. After the founder group sold its stake in 2014, Gyldendal and Aschehoug each held 50%. In spring 2017, Lydbokforlaget launched the streaming service Fabel, a subscription-based audiobook platform. In April 2022, the company changed its name to Fabel Lyd AS. Lydbokforlaget also operated a book club that was sold to De norske Bokklubbene in 2003, and it awarded an annual prize, Lydbokstemmen, for the best audiobook voice.

Lydbokforlaget was founded in 1987 in Melhus, Norway, by special educators Herborg Hongset and Hilde Nyseth. The publisher focused exclusively on producing audiobooks. It was initially owned in equal parts by a founder group and the three Norwegian publishing houses Aschehoug, Gyldendal, and Damm. In 1995, the company established a department in Oslo. A dedicated audiobook club was created but was sold to De norske Bokklubbene in 2003, when it had around 1,000 members. The company's revenue was NOK 17.5 million in 2001, over NOK 54 million in 2006, and approximately NOK 40 million in 2013. In 2013, the headquarters in Melhus was closed and moved to Oslo. In 2014, the founder group sold its shares, leaving Gyldendal and Aschehoug as equal owners with 50% each. In spring 2017, Lydbokforlaget launched Fabel, a subscription-based audiobook streaming service. In April 2022, the company changed its name to Fabel Lyd AS. Lydbokforlaget also awarded the annual Lydbokstemmen prize for the best audiobook voice, in collaboration with the audiobook club, with winners including Kai Remlov (2002), Gisken Armand and Nils Ole Oftebro (2003), and Klaus Hagerup and Andrea Bræin Hovig (2004).

• 2022

  Renamed to Fabel Lyd AS

• 2017

  Launched Fabel streaming service

• 2014

  Founder group sold shares; Gyldendal and Aschehoug became 50/50 owners

• 2013

  Headquarters moved from Melhus to Oslo

• 2003

  Audiobook club sold to De norske Bokklubbene

• 1995

  Established an Oslo department

• 1987

  Founded in Melhus, Norway

Norwegian audiobook publisher and streaming service provider

• Audiobooks

• Fabel (audiobook streaming subscription)

1. 1Lydbokforlaget - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Lydbokforlaget - Wikipedia (Norwegian)no.wikipedia.org