A vehicle seatback audio controller includes an entertainment interface that receives an entertainment audio signal from entertainment audio source, and a telematics interface that receives a telematics audio signal from a telematics audio source. The controller has an output that provides either the telematics audio signal to a seatback speaker when the telematics audio source is active or the entertainment audio signal to the seatback speaker when the telematics audio source is inactive. The controller may include an accelerometer or a microphone that generates a vibration signal and/or a noise signal. A level detector may receive the vibration signal and/or a noise signal, and adjust a level of the telematics audio signal to the seatback speaker as a function of the vibration signal and/or a noise signal.