3 ms·

The episode is much more fair to the publishers. They specifically call out the Libby app as the turning point. Once it became super accessible for people to g

The episode is much more fair to the publishers. They specifically call out the Libby app as the turning point. Once it became super accessible for people to get ebooks through libraries, it started really putting the squeeze on publishers and authors. In the episode they talk about how publishers started seeing the curve go parabolic and were basically forced into panic action to stay solvent. The money disappears on that side of the equation and full time authors are downgraded to working authors, and working authors are pushed out entirely. On the other side though, what they've created is a system of winners and losers. Libraries have limited budgets and have to be choosy about what ebooks they're getting now. So fewer authors get a larger slice of pie. I do think that generally lines up with the demand for books now...but it means that it will be harder for new authors to break through. It's really fascinating to me that, like they point out in the episode, everyone involved (authors, publishers, librarians) are passionate about books and getting people to read. They just need the economics to all work out, and that's where it gets super contrived. Very complex issue and highly recommend the Planet Money episode.

matwood 4y ago
Agree with what you said. Some other points, it's not all publishers. The big 4/5 are this way, but there are a ton of publishers who license much more liberally to libraries. Some will sell their entire catalog for a fixed yearly subscription w/o waits and some will even sell parts of the catalog perpetually. It's a win-win since publishers get a nice chunk of money and libraries get much better licensing terms. Another challenge you don't mention is patrons. They want the latest James Patterson novel, and nothing else. The library, smaller publishers, and less known authors don't have the marketing budgets to get patrons interested. There is so much content now that new, independent authors don't often even want money, they just want someone, anyone to read their book. Maybe unpopular opinion, but I think libraries should give up on best sellers or at a minimum embargo them for 12+ months. They'll end up with better terms from the big 4/5, and can be a discovery place for new authors in addition to/rather than Amazon KDP where many end up now. Oh, and I haven't even touched the existential threat from Amazon. They just released their entire music catalog for prime subscribers. There will come a point when they do the same for books.
- JTbane 4y ago
  >Maybe unpopular opinion, but I think libraries should give up on best sellers or at a minimum embargo them for 12+ months. They'll end up with better terms from the big 4/5, and can be a discovery place for new authors in addition to/rather than Amazon KDP where many end up now. I'm 100% in agreement of this for ebooks given how disgusting DRM practices are.

matwood 4y ago

Agree with what you said. Some other points, it's not all publishers. The big 4/5 are this way, but there are a ton of publishers who license much more liberally to libraries. Some will sell their entire catalog for a fixed yearly subscription w/o waits and some will even sell parts of the catalog perpetually. It's a win-win since publishers get a nice chunk of money and libraries get much better licensing terms. Another challenge you don't mention is patrons. They want the latest James Patterson novel, and nothing else. The library, smaller publishers, and less known authors don't have the marketing budgets to get patrons interested. There is so much content now that new, independent authors don't often even want money, they just want someone, anyone to read their book. Maybe unpopular opinion, but I think libraries should give up on best sellers or at a minimum embargo them for 12+ months. They'll end up with better terms from the big 4/5, and can be a discovery place for new authors in addition to/rather than Amazon KDP where many end up now. Oh, and I haven't even touched the existential threat from Amazon. They just released their entire music catalog for prime subscribers. There will come a point when they do the same for books.

JTbane 4y ago
>Maybe unpopular opinion, but I think libraries should give up on best sellers or at a minimum embargo them for 12+ months. They'll end up with better terms from the big 4/5, and can be a discovery place for new authors in addition to/rather than Amazon KDP where many end up now. I'm 100% in agreement of this for ebooks given how disgusting DRM practices are.