Audiothek

Audiothek is a German term for an audio library—a collection of sound recordings such as music, radio programs, podcasts, and other audio works. The word combines the Latin root audio with the German suffix -othek, which is used in terms like Bibliothek to denote a place where items are stored and accessed. In German-speaking media and culture, Audiothek is used to describe both physical archives and digital platforms that organize audio content for browsing and on-demand listening.

In contemporary usage, audiotheken are popular as digital repositories that allow users to search, browse, and stream audio. They may host a range of material, including news broadcasts, feature programs, lectures, radio plays, and podcasts, often with content from multiple producers or broadcasters. Access is typically provided through web interfaces and mobile applications, with content licensing and regional availability managed by the hosting organization.

One prominent example is the ARD Audiothek, a service of Germany’s public broadcasting network ARD. The ARD Audiothek aggregates radio programs, features, reports, and podcasts from ARD member stations and offers access via web browsers and mobile apps for iOS and Android. It enables discovery through search, topic tags, and curated recommendations, and it showcases content from across the ARD network. The ARD Audiothek has influenced how public broadcasters distribute on-demand audio and has been integrated into broader strategies for digital media access in Germany.