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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Authors Pen Open Letter to Amazon About Hachette Dispute

Two weeks ago bestselling author Douglas Preston began quietly circulating a letter to other writers that encourages readers to write to Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EIBF backs German publishers in Amazon complaint

The European and International Booksellers Federation has supported the German Publishers... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As Amazon slugs it out with the big publishers, authors are left cowering | Adam Fletcher & Paul Hawkins

And whoever comes out on top, you can bet the poor old writer won't be any better offA few weeks ago, we published a book called Denglisch for Better Knowers, a (hopefully) humorous book about how the English language could be improved by taking new words and concepts from German. Like "ear... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Amazon terms amount to 'assisted suicide' for book industry, experts claim

Report says publishers under heavy pressure to make damaging concessions including giving online retailer rights to print on demandBritish authors have condemned as "deeply worrying" reports that Amazon is now pressing for improved terms from publishers in the UK, as its showdown with Hachette... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sales Up at EDC, Earnings Fall

Revenues at Educational Development Corp. rose 2% in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2014, hitting $26.1 million, although accounting items dropped net earnings to $357,600 from $802,900 in fiscal 2013. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette US: Amazon actions 'affect authors' lives'

Hachette Book Group in the US has continued the public discussion of its terms battle with Amazon... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sales Fall, Earnings Rise at S&S

First quarter sales in 2014 fell 11% at Simon & Schuster, to $153 million, but operating income rose to $11 million from $10 million in the first quarter of 2013, parent company CBS reported. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Prejudice' claim from Scottish authors

London publishers are turning down work they consider “too Scottish”, the chair of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon paying ebook settlement cash back to Kindle users

Remember that antitrust suit concerning publishers, ebooks and price rigging? The good news, at least if you bought one of the affected titles between April 2010 and May 2012, is that Amazon is sending some money your way. If the book you purchased... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Should More Top Authors Give Back to Indie Bookstores?

Love him or hate him, you can't fault James Patterson for his generosity, as he's giving some $1 million of his money back to independent bookstores. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kate DiCamillo's 'Flora & Ulysses' earns author a second Newbery award

Kate DiCamillo wins Newbery: The awards, the most prestigious in children's publishing, were announced Monday by the American Library Association. DiCamillo, a popular and acclaimed author, won the Newbery a decade ago for 'The Tales of Despereaux.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DBW 2014: Survey Finds Most Authors Want to Earn More

The Digital Book World/Writer's Digest 2014 survey, which polled just over 9,000 authors, found that many, given the chance, would still opt for a traditional book deal. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Key to hit books discovered, study claims

Academic Yejin Choi says her algorithm can predict 'highly successful literature' with 84% accuracyAuthors, publishers and literary critics struggling to unlock the secrets of successful writing can breathe a sigh of relief, after a computer science professor has announced an algorithm that can... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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B&N: earnings rise but Nook sales fall again

Barnes & Noble has turned a profit in its second quarter of trading, but sales in its Nook... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Avon Goes Back to School for Next Big Romance Author

Partnering with HarperCollins's academic marketing division, Avon (which is a trade imprint at HC), is opening its editorial doors to submissions from undergraduate and graduate students. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big names back Authors for the Philippines campaign

Popular authors including George R R Martin, Neil Gaiman, Kate Atkinson and David Nicholls are... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Is Amazon Really in Retreat?

Porter Anderson looks at reactions to the news of Larry Kirshbaum's departure from Amazon Publishing, plus problems with print, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fall Regionals 2013: Getting Back to Basics

If there’s a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to change, it must be time for the fall regional trade shows. Although the shows have shrunk in recent years, Wanda Jewell, executive director of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, promises “a show people can’t miss,” with 150... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon lockers blamed in indie closure

Two bookshops have announced they are due to close this summer due to rising competition from the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon imprint holds author conference

Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer is flying authors out to a party and conference in Seattle... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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