Lantern Audio for Indie Authors

Lantern Audio for Indie Authors: Premium Audiobook Production and Distribution

Lantern Audio began its life as ListenUp Audio, a well-established audiobook production studio that built its reputation on the strength of its work with major traditional publishers. With clients that included Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, and Hachette, the studio became known for its award-winning narrators, flawless sound engineering, and polished final products. In those early years, ListenUp focused almost exclusively on serving the traditional publishing industry—but as the self-publishing revolution gained momentum, the team behind ListenUp recognized that a major shift was happening.

By the mid-2010s, indie authors were no longer niche. They were building successful publishing businesses, writing across every genre, and generating serious revenue—including in audiobooks. However, the audio production options available to them were often either too expensive, too restrictive, or too low quality. Many indie authors struggled to find narrators, manage production timelines, and distribute their finished audiobooks across retail platforms in a way that retained their rights and maximized royalties.

Seeing this need, ListenUp expanded its services to support the growing indie author segment. It wasn’t just a pivot in services—it was a philosophical shift. The studio committed itself to building tools, workflows, and contracts that aligned with author empowerment. This reorientation led to a rebrand in 2022, when the company officially became Lantern Audio: a name that symbolized clarity, guidance, and visibility for authors navigating the audiobook landscape.

Today, Lantern combines elite production capabilities with wide distribution, transparent royalties, and author-first service. It is one of the few audiobook platforms where indie authors can work with studio-level teams while keeping full ownership of their audio rights and earning the majority of their royalties. For authors serious about quality and sustainability, Lantern offers a professional yet flexible alternative to the rigid structures of Audible and ACX.

Timeline of Key Milestones

• Early 2000s: ListenUp Audio launches as a full-service audiobook studio in Atlanta, Georgia.
• 2015–2019: Begins supporting independent authors with narration and editing services.
• 2020: Introduces a global audiobook distribution platform to complement production.
• 2022: Rebrands as Lantern Audio, focusing on clarity, flexibility, and indie-first solutions.
• 2023: Merges with John Marshall Media, expanding production capacity and talent pool.

This evolution shows a consistent trend: Lantern adapts to the needs of its creators. As the indie author landscape continues to evolve, Lantern has grown alongside it, embracing new tools, broader networks, and a deeper understanding of what modern authors require.

Production Services Built for Professional Authors

Lantern Audio positions itself as a studio-quality production service accessible to independent authors. Every project is treated with the same level of professionalism and precision as those produced for traditional publishers. Authors benefit from the full weight of Lantern’s expertise—from casting the perfect narrator to mastering the final files for distribution across dozens of platforms.

When you begin a project with Lantern, the process starts with an in-depth consultation. Authors submit their manuscript and collaborate with the team to define tone, voice, genre expectations, and target audience. A casting director helps you select a narrator from Lantern's roster of vetted talent. These aren’t hobbyist narrators—many are SAG-AFTRA voice actors or award-winning professionals with extensive audiobook experience.

Once a narrator is chosen, a custom audition is created for author review. If approved, a production schedule is set. Lantern handles the entire process, including:

• Professional studio recording
• Live-directed sessions (if requested)
• Post-production, including editing, mastering, and quality assurance
• Final review and author approval

This hands-on, white-glove process ensures that the resulting audiobook meets or exceeds the standards of traditional publishers. It is especially valuable for authors seeking critical reviews, library placements, or consideration from audiobook award bodies such as the Audie Awards.

Most full-length fiction projects fall within the $200–$400 per finished hour (PFH) range, with higher rates reserved for well-known narrators or highly technical content. A 100,000-word novel (roughly 10.5 hours of finished audio) would require a production investment of $2,100–$4,200, depending on narrator and complexity.

Lantern is not a budget option. But for authors who understand the long-term value of producing a premium audiobook, the costs are seen as an investment in quality, credibility, and future income.

Audiobook Distribution Through Lantern

Lantern’s distribution network is one of its key advantages. Once your audiobook is produced—either through Lantern or externally—you can submit it for distribution through their global platform. Lantern will deliver your title to the following retailers and library networks:

• Audible
• Apple Books
• Google Play
• Kobo + Walmart
• OverDrive (Libraries)
• Hoopla (Libraries)
• Bibliotheca (Libraries)
• Scribd
• Audiobooks.com
• Libro.fm
• Downpour

Lantern authors retain full ownership of their files and may remove their audiobook from any or all retailers at any time. This non-exclusive model allows authors to:

• Sell directly via BookFunnel
• Use Shopify or Payhip for ecommerce
• Offer exclusive content to patrons or subscribers
• Experiment with AI or serialized versions

The only upfront cost is a one-time distribution onboarding fee of $50 per title (or $199 minimum if bundled with production). This grants authors access to their dashboard, royalty reporting, and distribution infrastructure. After that, Lantern takes only 25% of net sales, leaving authors with 75%—a rate that is substantially higher than Audible's 25% non-exclusive royalty through ACX.

Royalty payments are issued quarterly, with a $50 minimum. Authors receive transparent reports detailing earnings by store, territory, and title. While there is no real-time dashboard like some aggregators offer, Lantern’s reporting is detailed and reliable.

Metadata, ISBNs, and Platform Support

Lantern goes beyond simple distribution by offering support that many indie authors might not realize they need until it’s too late. This includes:

• Metadata formatting assistance
• ISBN assignment (if needed)
• Audio-specific cover design specs
• Chapter formatting compliance for various platforms
• Submission formatting for retail and library acceptance

They also provide promo codes for use on their own store, which authors can give away to early reviewers, influencers, or ARC teams. While Lantern does not offer in-house marketing or a dedicated promotions engine like Chirp, they maintain a list of recommended third-party services.

ROI and Financial Modeling

Let’s run a sample scenario. An author produces a 10.5-hour audiobook for $250 PFH, totaling $2,625.

If the audiobook is priced at $19.99 on Apple Books, the net revenue is 70% of that price: $13.99.

Lantern passes through 75% of that net, resulting in $10.49 per sale to the author.

To break even: $2,625 / $10.49 ≈ 250 sales

After that, every additional sale becomes profit. This break-even point is well within reach for authors with strong newsletter lists, robust backlists, or direct sales strategies. Lantern’s access to library systems, where authors are paid per checkout, can also help speed up ROI.

Pros and Cons for Indie Authors

Advantages: Lantern offers unmatched production quality, exceptional support, and global reach. Indie authors benefit from non-exclusive rights, generous royalties, and the ability to choose their level of involvement. Whether you want a full-service experience or just need help with distribution, Lantern gives you the tools to succeed.

Limitations: The most significant hurdle is cost. High-end audio comes at a premium, and not every author is ready to invest several thousand dollars into a single title. Additionally, the lack of built-in marketing tools means authors must handle all promotion themselves, which may be overwhelming for those without an existing platform or strategy. The quarterly payment schedule and lack of a live dashboard may also frustrate authors used to instant updates.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Use Lantern?

Lantern Audio is not for every indie author. But it is absolutely the right choice for those who prioritize quality, credibility, and long-term earnings. If you view your audiobook not just as a product but as a flagship representation of your author brand, Lantern is worth every penny.

It fills a critical niche in the audiobook ecosystem: between low-budget do-it-yourself options and rigid corporate platforms like ACX. For authors who want to sound like they belong on the shelves next to the bestsellers—but who also want to retain full rights and earn a larger share of the revenue—Lantern strikes the perfect balance.

For professional authors with an eye toward sustainability, discoverability, and reputation, Lantern Audio is a smart and strategic choice for audiobook success.