Episode 27: PRH’s New RS+ Model: Opportunity or Dangerous Precedent?

Send us Fan Mail Penguin Random House and SAG-AFTRA have created a new limited RS+ model for roughly 200 backlist titles. But the agreement has sparked a much bigger conversation about rates, full-production labor, revenue sharing, transparency, and what happens when human narrators are asked to compete with the cost of AI. This week, I’m digging into why the agreement exists, why some narrators see opportunity in it, and why I’m worried about the precedent it could set. Because if we believe human narration has value, where does that value show up in what we’re willing to pay for it? **Sources & Further Reading** **Audio Publishers Association — 2026 Consumer & 2025 Sales Surveys** The APA reports that U.S. audiobook sales reached $2.43 billion in 2025, up 9% year over year. AI-narrated audiobooks accounted for 0.03% of sales revenue; 16% of audiobook listeners reported having listened to an AI-voiced audiobook, while willingness to try AI narration declined from 70% in 2025 to 61% in 2026. (⁠Homepage) ⁠APA 2026 Consumer & 2025 Sales Survey **SAG-AFTRA — Audiobook Agreements & AI Protections** SAG-AFTRA notes that there is no single multi-employer audiobook agreement; the union has more than 90 separate agreements with audiobook publishers and producers, with rates tailored to individual publishers and producers. The union also outlines its protections regarding AI and digital replicas. (⁠SAG-AFTRA) ⁠SAG-AFTRA Audiobook Resources **SAG-AFTRA — Audiobooks and AI** The union’s existing “No Contract, No Work” order prohibits members from entering agreements with companies seeking to create, license, or use digital voice replicas or train AI systems for audiobook use unless the company becomes a SAG-AFTRA signatory. (⁠SAG-AFTRA) ⁠SAG-AFTRA: Audiobooks No Contract, No Work *Details about the specific PRH limited RS+ program discussed in this episode come from communications distributed to narrators and the union’s response to narrator concerns. The specific PFH rate is intentionally not included because members have been advised that individual contract rates are confidential.* *Good Aural* is hosted by audiobook narrator and actor Brenda Scott Wlazlo. We talk craft, business, performance, and the weird little things that make an audiobook actually work. Come hang out. Let’s talk about it. [Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree](https://linktr.ee/audiobookbrenda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=7b6b6a26-64bf-46f7-9d20-8a2c1bcd76c3)  website: Brendascottwlazlo.com For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website.