Amazon hits back at claims it is to blame for falling author earnings

Retailer insists Authors Guild report that criticised the online giant for contributing to tumbling writers’ incomes used flawed figures, but Guild stands by findingsAmazon has called the conclusions of a recent report into US author earnings flawed, after the Authors Guild suggested that the retail giant’s dominance could be partly responsible for the “a crisis of epic proportions” affecting writers in the US.The report from the writers’ body, published last week, highlighted the statistic that median income from writing-related work fell to $6,080 (£4,730) in 2017, down 42% from 2009, with literary authors particularly affected. Raising “serious concerns about the future of American literature”, the writers’ body singled out the growing dominance of Amazon for particular blame. “Amazon (which now controls 72% of the online book market in the US) puts pressure on [publishers] to keep costs down and takes a large percentage, plus marketing fees, forcing publishers to pass on their losses to authors,” said the report. Related: Crashing author earnings 'threaten future of American literature' Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #retail giant #median income #american literature

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German-language Authors Join in Battle Against Amazon

Austrian, Swiss and German authors have sent an open letter of protest to Amazon, protesting the use of 'authors and their books as a bargaining chip to exact deeper discounts.' Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon-Bonnier battle goes public with protest by European authors

More than 1,000 writers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have signed a letter to Amazon saying that the company has made Bonnier-published books less available and manipulated Amazon's recommended reading lists. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Responds to German Authors' Protest

Over the weekend, the 'New York Times' reported on a letter of protest, from authors in Germany, about a terms dispute between Amazon and the local publisher, Bonnier. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #local publisher #terms dispute #german authors #amazon responds


Amazon vs Hachette: readers and authors take sides in publishing dispute

The tussle between Amazon and the publishing conglomerate has been raging since spring. Heres an update on the fightA corporate boxing match broke from the ring and swelled into all-out rumpus last weekend, as readers and authors took sides in Amazon and Hachettes fight over the publishing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #lower price #giant corporations #contract negotiations #online retailer


Amazon Returns Fire: The Battle With Hachette and Authors United Continues

Amazon has responded to an open letter by Authors United, signed by 900-plus authors in support of Hachette, with their own open letter, Readers United. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon ebook pricing battle intensifies after 'Authors United' ad

Compares Hachette dispute to past paperback fears, but partially quoting George Orwell is a risky moveAmazon has hit back following an open letter from more than 900 authors criticising its licensing dispute with publisher Hachette, which was published as an ad in the New York Times.However, the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #reading public #big businesses #market share #penguin books #status quo


Amazon Urging Authors, Others to Email HBG's Pietsch

The Amazon Book Team urges KDP authors and others to email HBG CEO Michael Pietsch to tell him what they think of the publisher’s attempt to what Amazon says is its effort to keep ebook prices artificially high. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bestselling authors take out full-page New York Times ad against Amazon

Stephen King and Donna Tartt among those petitioning Amazon to 'stop harming the livelihood of the authors'Readers of the New York Times will have to steel themselves this weekend, as the unseemly brawl between Hachette and Amazon erupts on to the tranquil pages of the Grey Lady. Perhaps the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors take out full-page NYT ad to criticize Amazon

There's no sign that Amazon and Hachette are close to burying their ebook hatchet, which has prompted the authors caught in the middle to speak up. One of those affected, Douglas Preston, penned an open letter to Jeff Bezos, requesting that he... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Adult Authors at the FALL 2014 Regionals

Below is a sampling of some of the many authors who will be at this season’s eight regionals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's Authors at the Fall 2014 Regionals

Here is a sampling of some of the many authors who will be at this season’s eight regionals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors back call for Scotland 'No' vote

Authors including Sebastian Faulks, P D James, Howard Jacobson, India Knight and Richard Dawkins... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #richard dawkins #india knight #howard jacobson


Over 900 Authors Sign Open Letter to Amazon

Authors United, the loosely knit group of authors who joined forces to formally ask Amazon to end its sales terms dispute with Hachette Books, is preparing to run a full-page ad in Sunday's "New York Times." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #full-page ad #hachette books #joined forces #authors united


'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin's children's book will be republished this fall

The book, 'The Ice Dragon,' appears to be set in the 'Thrones' fictional universe. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin's children's book will be republished this fall (+video)

The book, 'The Ice Dragon,' appears to be set in the 'Game of Thrones' fictional universe. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #fictional universe #ice dragon #author george


Hachette ebook sales fall in wake of dispute with Amazon over pricing

Hachette finance chief plays down effect of Amazon tactics as parent Lagardère reports 1% overall dip in salesThe Hachette publishing group has reported a fall in ebook sales as it continues its battle with Amazon over pricing.The publisher of Ian Rankin and Booker prize nominee Joshua Ferris... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Claims $9.99 E-books Create 'Bigger Pie'

Amazon claims a "key objective" in its ongoing dispute with Hachette is to keep ebook prices low and competitive with other other media. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Preston: authors 'feel betrayed' by Amazon dispute

Books “should not be treated as if they’re boxes of cereal occupying grocery store... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon: 'Hachette paying authors too little on ebooks'

Hachette Book Group is “sharing too small a portion” of the revenue from ebooks with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tracking Amazon: 'Fifty Shades' Back on Top

After the first trailer for the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey dropped on July 24, lighting up the internet, the first book in E.L. James's trilogy shot back up to the top of Amazon's bestseller list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #bestseller list #film adaptation #fifty shades #tracking amazon