This article provides an overview of the AYCL program on ACX for those enrolled in Audible’s new royalty model. Starting May 26th, 2026, newly claimed titles and new users will be on Audible’s new royalty model. 

• What is the AYCL program on ACX?The AYCL program allows creators enrolled in Audible's new royalty model to opt-in titles for distribution in the AYCL catalog in the Premium membership plan. Audible curates which opted-in titles are included in the AYCL catalog to provide the best listener experience. Note: Your title needs to be enrolled in Audible’s new royalty model to be eligible for AYCL program inclusion.  

• What content should I opt into the AYCL program? The ability to distribute your titles to our AYCL program gives you even more flexibility to design for new audiences and experiment with the best promotional strategies to build your listener base. You can choose to opt in any titles (e.g. standalone, series, new release, backlist) to the AYCL program for consideration.  However, there are several types of content we would suggest selecting for AYCL distribution including:

  • Short-form content. Get more out of content with shorter runtimes like novellas or content for kids. 

  • First-in-a-series titles. Use the first title of a multi-title series strategically to introduce your stories to AYCL listeners. 

  • Fresh new voices. Experiment with storylines that explore new or niche perspectives. 

  • Backlist titles. Breathe new life into already published titles that have slowed in performance. 

  We would not recommend titles that are performing well in a credit or monthly unit selection membership model, especially those ranked as bestselling titles on Audible.    

• How do I opt in a title enrolled to Audible’s new royalty model into Audible's AYCL Program on ACX?  
  
  • In your ACX dashboard, go to My projects.
  • Go to the Programs tab.
  • Next to Audible’s AYCL program, select Opt in titles.
  • Select the title(s) you’d like to opt in, then select Opt in title.
  • Select Confirm to finish.

• Once I select my title to be distributed into the AYCL program, does that mean it will automatically be available to customers? Enrolling to the new royalty model gives you the ability to select which titles you would like to be considered for AYCL distribution in territories where multiple plans are available. However, upon doing so that title is still subject to Audible editorial review before inclusion in order to ensure the best experience for our listeners and creators. We typically make selections on the 1st of the month, so make sure to check the AYCL dashboard on your title’s status.  

• How do you measure member listening activity for AYCL titles? Under the new model, an AYCL title earns a royalty when a customer reaches a certain threshold or “Qualified Listen”. These thresholds were thoroughly researched by Audible’s data science and economics team to determine the points in time where customers continue listening to a title past a sample. The threshold is determined by the title’s length, where shorter titles will require a greater percentage of listening (see table). After a title is opted-in to the AYCL Program on ACX and made available to listeners, you will begin to see “Qualified Listens” captured in your monthly earnings statements and sales dashboard.  

• Can I remove a title that I’ve opted into the AYCL program? Yes, you may remove before the title is made available to listeners through the AYCL catalog, or any time after 90 days from when it becomes available to listeners  through the AYCL catalog.  
  • In your ACX dashboard, go to My projects.
  • Go to the Programs tab.
  • Next to Audible’s AYCL program, select Opt in titles.
  • Select the title(s) you’d like to opt out, then select Opt out.
  • Select Confirm to finish.

• If a title is currently available to listeners in the AYCL program, how long will it take to be opted out? Once you have confirmed to opt-out a title in the AYCL program, it will take 30 days to move the title out of AYCL on Audible. Keep in mind that titles must remain in the AYCL catalog for at least 90 days before you can request to opt out — meaning the total time from being made available to listeners to full exit is approximately 120 days. This period ensures there is minimal disruption for members actively listening to the title.  

• How will I know when my title was selected to be in an AYCL program? Any title enrolled to the new royalty model is eligible to be opted into the AYCL program. Once you opt in a title to the program from the AYCL program dashboard, you can also track its status such as when a title is “in editorial review” or “available to listeners” if it was approved for distribution. 

• Why was my title removed from the AYCL catalog? What does it mean that it remains opted in for future consideration? Audible routinely reviews and curates which opted in titles are included in AYCL to provide the best listener experience. While we may remove your title from the AYCL catalog, it remains opted in the AYCL program and is eligible for future content curation considerations.  

• How will I understand the impact of a title enrolled in the AYCL program on my earnings? You can better understand the impact of titles enrolled in the AYCL program by viewing Qualified Listens in your Sales Overview tab as well as your monthly earnings statement.

• What happened to the Global Reach program? You can no longer enroll titles into Global Reach. Now, with Audible’s new royalty model any enrolled title may be distributed in territories where the only Audible membership offering available is the AYCL membership plan. In other words, if you enrolled in the new royalty model there is no additional action required on your part to distribute your title to BR, IT, ES, and JP where Global Reach was supported. 

• What are the AYCL requirements? By opting your title into the AYCL program, you understand that Audible is under no obligation to make the audiobook available in any AYCL catalogs of digital audio products, including without limitation, in an AYCL. The AYCL program may change over time and the program requirements will need to change over time as well. 

• • Select the Sales Overview tab
  • Under “Sales types”, select QL (Qualified Listen)
  • Scroll down to the Titles table and view the populated Top marketplaces boxes on the right side. This will show you a breakdown of which marketplaces from which you are earning via QL (Qualified Listens)
  • Alternatively, under “Marketplace”, select one or more marketplaces to see your sales in the selected marketplaces