This blog and my speeches contain frequent references to what we see as the big shifts the book publishing industry, and some publishers more than others, are feeling. The horizontal and format-specific product-centric media of the 20th century are inexorably yielding to the vertical and format-agnostic community-centric delivery environment for content that will soon predominate. In […]
The tipping has really already started
The idea of an “Ebook Tipping Point” panel for Digital Book World arose when I wrote a blogpost last August https://idealog.com/blog/ebook-growth-explosive-serious-disruptions-around-the-corner on the occasion of the regular monthly release of the IDPF’s ebook sales figures. It was clear then that very substantial percentages of the sale of new narrative fiction and non-fiction were going to […]
Here’s a real vertical: PoetrySpeaks.com
I have been imagining “verticals” for more than ten years. My BEA speech earlier this year postulated that publishing power would shift from controlling “IP” to controlling “eyeballs.” Lots of publishers have complimented me on my insights and have told me “we’re thinking along the same lines.” But what I see are mostly product catalogs organized […]
Debut pricing: my idea, great idea, unfortunately can’t work
In the words of Emily Litella, the Saturday Night Live character of the 1970s invented by Gilda Radner, “never mind.” I’m referring to my post about “debut pricing” from earlier this week. It can’t be done; at least not easily and at least not immediately. The challenges we face require a continuing conversation and crowds […]
“Debut pricing” for ebooks: a better idea than withholding them
Three weeks ago, the community had a big discussion about the timing of ebook releases which was triggered by Dominique Raccah’s announcement that Sourcebooks would hold back the ebook of Bran Hambric for some period after the hardcover release. The expressed concern was to insulate the $28.95 hardcover from the price competition currently taking place […]