Matt Shatz argues they might well be. In the digital world, "self-publishing" through sites such as Amazon may be more useful than going through a traditional publisher such as Random House. Those sites know lots about their visitors and can send suggestions of appropriate titles to the right people, Shatz points out. If traditional publishers don't figure out ways to learn about their target audiences, they will be at the mercy of web distributors such as Amazon.
See Matt Shatz, "Why Online Retailers Will Squeeze Out Publishers in the Book Business," PaidContent.org, January 18, 2011.
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What Scholastic's Bratz Ban Indicates Isn't So Clear
When schools send these book club fliers home with children, the message is that 'We think these are fine and are good for your child.'
-Susan Linn, Director of The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
In Motoko Rich, "Scholastic Cuts ‘Bratz’ Products for Book Clubs and Fairs," New York Times, September 21, 2008
Linn's organization is celebrating--and taking credit for--the decision by Scholastic Inc. to no longer include books based on the Bratz dolls in any of its school book clubs or fairs this year. Scholastic makes about a third of its income from those clubs and fairs. Critics of the Bratz dolls consider them overtly sexualized due to the emphasis on particular aspects of the female anatomy; the critics insist that nothing about them should be placed in the hands of girls. In fact, Scholastic has also stopped offering spinoff products--for example, a Bratz computer game and designer stencil kit, in its book clubs and fairs.
Scholastic's president will not state directly that the Campaign influenced its decision; the company's position is that declining sales of these materials as well as anger around the Bratz combined to lead to that decision. Although some in Linn's organization may take the credit for Scholastic's decision as a win against commercialism in books sold in schools, over the long term the picture is much more complex. Many teachers and librarians believe that items in commercial culture are the only predictable items to attract serious attention toward reading by many young people. They feel that if bringing commercial products into books will encourage reading, then it should be done. Rather than indicating a trend against commercialism and childhood, the Scholastic decision make simply indicate an aversion to mixing sexual depictions and childhood.
-Susan Linn, Director of The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
In Motoko Rich, "Scholastic Cuts ‘Bratz’ Products for Book Clubs and Fairs," New York Times, September 21, 2008
Linn's organization is celebrating--and taking credit for--the decision by Scholastic Inc. to no longer include books based on the Bratz dolls in any of its school book clubs or fairs this year. Scholastic makes about a third of its income from those clubs and fairs. Critics of the Bratz dolls consider them overtly sexualized due to the emphasis on particular aspects of the female anatomy; the critics insist that nothing about them should be placed in the hands of girls. In fact, Scholastic has also stopped offering spinoff products--for example, a Bratz computer game and designer stencil kit, in its book clubs and fairs.
Scholastic's president will not state directly that the Campaign influenced its decision; the company's position is that declining sales of these materials as well as anger around the Bratz combined to lead to that decision. Although some in Linn's organization may take the credit for Scholastic's decision as a win against commercialism in books sold in schools, over the long term the picture is much more complex. Many teachers and librarians believe that items in commercial culture are the only predictable items to attract serious attention toward reading by many young people. They feel that if bringing commercial products into books will encourage reading, then it should be done. Rather than indicating a trend against commercialism and childhood, the Scholastic decision make simply indicate an aversion to mixing sexual depictions and childhood.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Barnes & Noble Angry at Not Being First in Line for New Book
This election is too important to wait around for traditional publishing lead times.
-Margo Baldwin, president and publisher, Chelsea Green
In Julie Bosman, "Early Sales of a Book on Obama Angers Stores," The New York Times, August 18, 2008
At the Democratic National Convention, the Chelsea Green book publishing company plans to distribute coupons for an Amazon.com discount on a pro-Obama book by Robert Kuttner. To get the book out by that time, the publisher decided to use Amazon's publisher print-on-deman technology. This approach meant, however, that traditional booksellers such as Barnes & Noble would have to wait a few weeks to get their regular shipments. Being put in second place angered Barnes & Noble, which canceled a 15,000 copy order for the book. Clearly, the bookstore chain is worried about the precedent that this two-step publication activity has for the public's awareness of the brick-and-mortar store as the most timely place to buy new titles. Is this incident just an aberration due to a tight publishing schedule around the convention (as Margo Baldwin argues)? Or is it another marker of the profound, long term changes that are affecting book publishing as digital technology spreads?
-Margo Baldwin, president and publisher, Chelsea Green
In Julie Bosman, "Early Sales of a Book on Obama Angers Stores," The New York Times, August 18, 2008
At the Democratic National Convention, the Chelsea Green book publishing company plans to distribute coupons for an Amazon.com discount on a pro-Obama book by Robert Kuttner. To get the book out by that time, the publisher decided to use Amazon's publisher print-on-deman technology. This approach meant, however, that traditional booksellers such as Barnes & Noble would have to wait a few weeks to get their regular shipments. Being put in second place angered Barnes & Noble, which canceled a 15,000 copy order for the book. Clearly, the bookstore chain is worried about the precedent that this two-step publication activity has for the public's awareness of the brick-and-mortar store as the most timely place to buy new titles. Is this incident just an aberration due to a tight publishing schedule around the convention (as Margo Baldwin argues)? Or is it another marker of the profound, long term changes that are affecting book publishing as digital technology spreads?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Sony Buys All of Sony BMG
It’s a less risky business. The advent of the cellphone as a conveyor of music globally takes away a lot of the risk.
-Howard Stringer, chairman of Sony Corporation
In Mark Landler, "Sony and BMG End Their Partnership in Music," New York Times, August 6, 2008
Sony and Bertelsmans recently announced they will disband their four-year-old joint music venture, Sony BMG. Bertelsmann decided that the recording business would continue to tank and that the value it had in the venture would continue to decline, so it sold its stake to Sony for $900 miillion. Sony accepted the gamble of owning the recording company because its executives believe that the purchase of of music through cell phones and Sony's PlayStation Network will bring in stable revenues despite internet piracy. Also building revenues would be increased music sales in huge markets such as China and India, Stringer said.
For its part, Bertlesmann seems to be turning away from consumer media to invest in new service businesses such as education. Last month, the company sold its North American book and record clubs to a private investment firm. Bertelsmann did, however, keep one part of its music legacy: its administration of rights of European musical artists, a business that generates a small amount for such a big company--less than $20 million a year in sales. To Bertelsmann executives, though, artists rights is one area of the music industry with decent prospects, and one that fits with Bertelsmann's growing emphasis on service companies.
--> See chart in article: Share of US music album sales, 2008 -to date
-Howard Stringer, chairman of Sony Corporation
In Mark Landler, "Sony and BMG End Their Partnership in Music," New York Times, August 6, 2008
Sony and Bertelsmans recently announced they will disband their four-year-old joint music venture, Sony BMG. Bertelsmann decided that the recording business would continue to tank and that the value it had in the venture would continue to decline, so it sold its stake to Sony for $900 miillion. Sony accepted the gamble of owning the recording company because its executives believe that the purchase of of music through cell phones and Sony's PlayStation Network will bring in stable revenues despite internet piracy. Also building revenues would be increased music sales in huge markets such as China and India, Stringer said.
For its part, Bertlesmann seems to be turning away from consumer media to invest in new service businesses such as education. Last month, the company sold its North American book and record clubs to a private investment firm. Bertelsmann did, however, keep one part of its music legacy: its administration of rights of European musical artists, a business that generates a small amount for such a big company--less than $20 million a year in sales. To Bertelsmann executives, though, artists rights is one area of the music industry with decent prospects, and one that fits with Bertelsmann's growing emphasis on service companies.
--> See chart in article: Share of US music album sales, 2008 -to date
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The Bright Future of E-Paper
..you'll be looking at a $400 billion market.
-Sri Peruvemba, vice president for marketing, E Ink
In David DeJean, "The Future of E-Paper: The Kindle is Only the Beginning," Computerworld, June 6, 2008.
Peruvemba and others in the electronic "paper" display business believe that popular interest in Amazon.com's Kindle and its rival, the Sony Reader, mark the start of a coming stream of innovations that will culminate in light, thin, instantly updatable readers that may some day replace the book. The first successful demonstration of e-paper technology was made by Nick Seridon at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center during the 1970s. But contemporary developments are typically marked from the development of electronic "ink" by E Ink Corporation beginning 1997. Electronic ink technology at this point is used in a variety of applications in addition to e-book readers, including some credit cards and watch dials. But many technologists believe that the trajectory of the technology is both lucrative and world-changing.
-Sri Peruvemba, vice president for marketing, E Ink
In David DeJean, "The Future of E-Paper: The Kindle is Only the Beginning," Computerworld, June 6, 2008.
Peruvemba and others in the electronic "paper" display business believe that popular interest in Amazon.com's Kindle and its rival, the Sony Reader, mark the start of a coming stream of innovations that will culminate in light, thin, instantly updatable readers that may some day replace the book. The first successful demonstration of e-paper technology was made by Nick Seridon at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center during the 1970s. But contemporary developments are typically marked from the development of electronic "ink" by E Ink Corporation beginning 1997. Electronic ink technology at this point is used in a variety of applications in addition to e-book readers, including some credit cards and watch dials. But many technologists believe that the trajectory of the technology is both lucrative and world-changing.
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