• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Arts & EntertainmentAmazon

Amazon Wants to Fund a New Generation of Playwrights

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 31, 2017, 1:04 PM ET
Amazon's Emmy Celebration - Arrivals
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Jeff Bezos arrives for Amazon's Emmy Celebration at Sunset Tower Hotel on September 18, 2016 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic)Gabriel Olsen—FilmMagic/Getty Images

It’s no secret that Amazon is always looking to add to its portfolio of original content.

Now, the tech giant is looking for a few good playwrights to write fiction for Audible, it digital audiobooks service. On Tuesday, Amazon announced a new $5 million fund for providing grants to emerging writers who create one- or two-person plays that can be made in audio-only format on Audible, which typically offers audiobooks and podcasts.

Announcing the news in The New York Times, Audible CEO Donald Katz said the fund would initially support roughly a dozen playwrights, all of whom will apply for grants that will cover the cost of production as well as “industry standards” for new commissions. After playwrights submit their work to Amazon, the company will rely on recommendations of an advisory board consisting theater industry bigwigs that includes actress Annette Bening, as well as award-winning playwrights such as Tom Stoppard and Lynn Nottage.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune‘s technology newsletter.

Amazon is expected to spend roughly $4.5 billion on original content in 2017, according to one estimate, though much of that money will go toward original movies and TV shows as the e-commerce giant continues to ramp up its digital video portfolio in an attempt to compete with Netflix. However, Amazon has also been ramping up its audio offerings.

Last summer, Amazon introduced Channels, its subscription service offering ad-free podcasts and other on-demand audio content from Audible, while Amazon Prime members get access to unlimited podcasts and audio from Audible. And, the new original stories would join other exclusive audio content produced by Amazon’s Audible, including podcasts such as Ponzi Supernova, which focuses on the financial crimes of Bernie Madoff, as well as original comedy series featuring well-known comedians like Will Arnett and Nick Offerman.

About the Author
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
Fortune Secondary Logo
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

bears
North AmericaSports
Why the Chicago Bears could actually move to Indiana
By John O'Connor and The Associated PressMarch 14, 2026
2 hours ago
MagazineHollywood
The Oscars make it clear: Hollywood is in a death spiral
By Geoff ColvinMarch 13, 2026
1 day ago
The new U.S. Dime design for the country's 250th Anniversary features an eagle clutching arrows but not an olive branch.
North AmericaCurrency
The U.S. Mint dropped the olive branch from the dime. What does that mean for the country?
By Catherina GioinoMarch 12, 2026
2 days ago
EuropeLetter from London
AI is capable of remarkable feats. And has the power to kill. Meet one woman warning about the dangers ahead
By Kamal AhmedMarch 12, 2026
2 days ago
Personal FinanceLoans
When is a personal loan a good idea?
By Joseph HostetlerMarch 11, 2026
3 days ago
Middle EastGlobal Politics
Israeli president’s message to CEOs in D.C.: ‘We need to be steadfast, take a deep breath, and finish the undermining of Iran’
By Diane BradyMarch 11, 2026
3 days ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Personal Finance
The national debt isn't $39 trillion. One economist says it's actually $100 trillion
By Nick LichtenbergMarch 13, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
When Jamie Dimon was fired from Citigroup, his daughters asked: 'Will we be homeless? Can I still go to college? Can I have your phone?'
By Eleanor PringleMarch 13, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
North America
The U.S. Mint dropped the olive branch from the dime. What does that mean for the country?
By Catherina GioinoMarch 12, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
'This cannot be sustainable': The U.S. borrowed $50 billion a week for the past five months, the CBO says
By Eleanor PringleMarch 10, 2026
4 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Trump's immigration crackdown is backfiring by hurting the U.S.-born workers it was meant to help, data shows
By Sasha RogelbergMarch 10, 2026
4 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
Morgan Stanley warns an AI breakthrough Is coming in 2026 — and most of the world isn't ready
By Nick LichtenbergMarch 13, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.