Audible Whisks Romance Fans Away with Immersive Events and Campaigns
Sometimes size does matter. Especially when we’re talking about the generous size of Audible’s romance catalog, which offers a vast array of hit titles that span a variety of subgenres, and even microgenres, to satisfy every taste. As part of Audible’s bold new global campaign spotlighting our romance catalog, including our global multicast adaptation of Pride and Prejudice; Lily Chu’s latest rom-com, Rich Girl Summer; and enemies-to-lovers romantasy Deathbound, Audible held a series of swoonworthy events from New York City to Sydney that immersed fans in the worlds they can’t get enough of.
Lakeside Rendezvous
In New York City’s lush Central Park, the lake’s iconic Boathouse became the scene of Audible’s Lakeside Rendezvous, where visitors mingled with characters inspired by romantasy, Regency and modern romances before setting off for a ride with their “boat boyfriends” and “boat girlfriends” (a play on social media’s “book boyfriends and girlfriends”, a trend celebrating fictional love interests from books). While they waited in line, guests played an Audible Love Match Quiz to find their perfect romance listen.
In the serene Boathouse, surrounded by picturesque views, influencers were treated to an elegant tea-and-canapé service like something right out of Jane Austen, among characters from some of today’s most beloved romance novels. Each course was paired with excerpts from bingeworthy romance titles and live readings from the characters.
Guests mingled with favorite book characters during a tea-and-canapé service.
An Ardent Affair
Classical renditions of modern songs filled the event, a nod to the original score from Audible’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
To celebrate the release of the Audible Original adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Audible collaborated with NowThis to throw an event smack dab in the middle of New York Fashion Week, with influencers, members of the press, and industry leaders coming dressed in their finest Regency-era garb.
Guests marveled at a dress custom-embroidered by designer Rachel Ellenbogen to resemble Pride and Prejudice’s cover art; watched a live painting session; received professional calligraphy on custom-monogrammed, leather-bound journals; and took fireside glamour photos. Guests also picked up gold-foil telephones to listen to snippets of the Audible Original, and much more.
A Spicy, Saucy Collab
In Australia, we collaborated with actor and content creator Maddy MacRae to promote a limited-edition box of hot wings from Sydney’s cult favorite chicken spot, Wingboy, inspired by BookTok’s obsession with spice levels in romance. Each heart-shaped box offered sauces in mild, spicy, extra spicy, and “I want it all,” with suggested listens to match, from slow burns to scorching affairs, plus a code for a three-month Audible trial. An exclusive surprise message from romance-narrator royalty Teddy Hamilton helped sweeten each box even more, and influencers received special Audible x Wingboy deliveries direct to their doorstep from actors dressed as favorite romance characters like Xaden from Fourth Wing and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.
A Festival with Heart
A Kiss Cam caught love interests in the iHeartRadio Music Festival crowd. Photo: Wes and Alex for iHeartRadio.
At this year’s iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, fans were swept off their feet — literally! — by Audible’s "Wheel of Love.” Guests first took a fun quiz matching them with their ideal romance audiobook, which they then listened to on iPads installed in each gondola as they rode our breathtaking Ferris wheel and took “kiss cam”-inspired photos for the big screens down below.
The excitement began even before the event, as fans submitted videos sharing how they find escape through Audible’s romance titles. The winning entry earned an Audible fan and her mother a VIP all-inclusive trip to the festival, where they met Audible Words + Music alum (and eternal romantic) Mariah Carey.
