Audible Sound Bites with Yusuke Miki

Yusuke Miki (who goes by “Mickey”), is a Business Affairs Manager on our Acquisitions and Partnerships team, working to add bestsellers, Audible Originals, and other exciting audio content to Audible’s catalogue for our listeners in Japan. Based in our Tokyo hub, he answered some questions about his work there.

What is life like at the hub you’re aligned to?

The Tokyo hub is in Meguro, a ward of Tokyo known for its cherry blossoms, which appear around the Meguro River in spring. Every spring, our team has a Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) dinner.

How does your job contribute to Audible’s mission to surprise and delight listeners around the world?

My love for audio entertainment inspires me as I strive to acquire and produce the best titles. Every day, I communicate with publishers, authors and other rights-holders, and collaborate with Production, Marketing, Public Relations, Brand, and other teams within Audible to make sure the content reaches as many listeners as possible.

Many Japanese authors are actively seeking opportunities to release their works abroad. We provide this opportunity through our audio-first initiative, which allows us to translate and distribute their work in other marketplaces. Mieko Kawakami, known for Heaven, which was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, published Audible Japan’s first Original title in 2021, and through this project, the German version was released on Audible in 2023, and we are planning to release the English version in the near future as well.

What was your first Audible listen? What inspired you to check it out?  

I first encountered audiobooks when I started working in Tokyo and realized there are very limited things you can do on a super-packed commuting train. Then I read an interview with Haruki Murakami saying he listens to classic Japanese literature in his car. My first title was Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, which was the best-selling title at the time. I was immediately captivated.

Can you share an an example of a time when you received customer feedback that was meaningful to you?

Thankfully, the majority of the reviews on content I’ve worked on are positive, and some very enthusiastic. Reading these comments and sharing them with the team and other stakeholders are one of the best parts of working at Audible.

What role do our People Principles play in your day-to-day work?

Being “Customer Obsessed” has been my top priority at Audible from day one. Understanding our listeners is the first step in acquiring and producing new titles. Publishers, authors, creators, and other partners are also our customers, and I work daily to build strong relationships with them in order to deliver top-quality content to our listeners.

Do you participate in any community impact activities?

Since 2022, our team has been working with the Japan Braille Library to provide a selection of Audible content to the visually impaired. I have been coordinating this initiative since its launch and enjoy reading all the messages we receive from users, and I feel proud to be part of an organization where all team members are passionate about supporting an initiative that truly has impact.

Other than the people, what do you love most about the culture here?

The shared love of content, and that the whole organization is striving to get better in all aspects. We are growing across the globe, and there are always new initiatives to enhance our content and how we operate.

What employee benefits do you find invaluable?

As the father of a three-year-old daughter, the flexibility of working from hub or home and the flex time offered has been extremely helpful in fulling my personal and professional life. During my parental leave, I was able to spend quality time with my child from the day she was born. Currently I am able to set time with my family while arranging all the meetings with publishers and visiting the studio. The understanding and support from my team and manager has been very helpful, as well.

What’s one quality that people interested in working on Audible’s acquisitions and partnerships team need in order to succeed?

Open-mindedness is critical, as we are in a rapidly evolving environment and new opportunities come and go at a high pace. Being open-minded includes being ready and able to connect with people, and having the ability to imagine the outcome first and work backwards. We work with various stakeholders who each have their own history and philosophy, so understanding and respecting their views to create a great collaboration is also part of our open-mindedness.

What made you choose to work at Audible, and what makes you want to stay?

The potential of audio entertainment in Japan is immeasurable, and I am fortunate to be able to say I have only seen progress since I joined in 2020. I feel honored to be part of an organization that truly believes in the power of voice and has been inspiring millions of people across the globe.

Lightning round!

Favorite genre? Literary Fiction.

Listening from a speaker or headphones? Headphones.

Favorite activity while listening? Walking around the city.

Morning person or night owl? Morning person.

Favorite snack? Daifuku, which is mochi filled with sweet red bean.

What are you currently listening to?

Orlando, by Virginia Woolf. I recently saw an adaptation of this for the stage.