When will publishers wake up to the challenge of Amazon?

The books industry still underestimates the disruptive power of Jeff Bezos's awesome ambitionSo Amazon are the bad guys, again. At least according to Harper's Magazine they are. For the former Amazon employee James Marcus, Brad Stone "drops the ball" in his biography of Jeff Bezos, The Everything Store, when he accepts "what is literally the company line – that these extorted dollars 'create the foundation on which everyday low prices become possible'." Marcus tells how some publishers are being "pressured" to pay "for the privilege of presenting their lists to [Amazon] marketing team and buyers" – a story denied in a footnote by an unnamed "Amazon spokesperson" – and goes on to assemble an impressive rap sheet of sharp practice:Of course it's legal. So is Amazon's control of an estimated 65 percent of the ebook market, a near monopoly that's apparently of no concern to the supine Department of Justice. So is its bare-bones price of $9.99 for popular ebooks, a loss-leading tactic that might be classified as predatory pricing if there weren't so many legal hurdles to making such a charge stick. So is the funneling of its British revenues through a subsidiary in Luxembourg ...... and on it goes. But Amazon's aggressive style of doing business is nothing new. What astonishes me is the continuing ability of publishers to underestimate how radically Amazon has changed the industry.Mike Shatzkin is one of those who have understood Amazon's disruptive power all along. But such... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #literary culture

Other news stories related to: "When will publishers wake up to the challenge of Amazon?"

Publishers Are Urged to Monitor Amazon Buy Buttons

The e-tailer's year-old strategy of letting third party sellers compete for buy buttons is here to stay. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #buy buttons

SoA challenges publishers to reveal how much they pay authors

The chief executive of the Society of Authors has challenged publishers to reveal how much they pay writers in their annual financial accounts. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #pay writers #challenged publishers #pay authors

Amazon Publishing Debuts Topple Books Imprint

Jill Soloway, LGBTQ activist and creator of the Amazon TV shows 'Transparent' and 'I Love Dick,' has been named head of Topple Books. The new Amazon Publishing unit will focus on works by women of color, as well as writers who identify as queer and/or gender nonconforming. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #topple books #named head #love dick #jill soloway

Self-Censorship in Publishing Today: World Industry Leaders on a Subtle, Growing Challenge

From the director of Frankfurter Buchmesse to the founder of a Thai publishing house and a Norwegian publisher who was shot in Oslo: sharp cautionary remarks about self-censorship and its dangers. The post Self-Censorship in Publishing Today: World Industry Leaders on a Subtle, Growing Challenge... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #norwegian publisher #frankfurter buchmesse #growing challenge #publishing today

Publishers challenge HEFCE over OA monograph plans

University press publishers have challenged the head of research policy at funder HEFCE over plans to require all monographs to be published Open Access to be eligible for the 2027 Research Excellence Framework (REF). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Deacon to lead Amazon Publishing UK

Laura Deacon has been appointed to lead Amazon Publishing UK's editorial team, succeeding current editor-in-chief, Emilie Marneur, who is moving to Amazon Video to become its head of film acquisition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #emilie marneur #editorial team

Publishers Offer Parents Guidance In Challenging Times

Whether its books on racial tensions, single parenting, social change or social media, religion publishers are satisfying a demand for books that help parents address the most challenging issues of the day. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #challenging issues #religion publishers #social change #racial tensions #challenging times

Driscoll signs new two-book deal with Amazon Publishing

Amazon Publishing’s Thomas & Mercer imprint has signed two new titles from former BBC journalist, Teresa Driscoll. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #amazon publishing

Publishers, already shifting dependence from Facebook, are expected to accelerate that in wake of news feed change

Before Facebook announced its news feed changes, many publishers were working to minimize their dependence on the platform's referral traffic. The post Publishers, already shifting dependence from Facebook, are expected to accelerate that in wake of news feed change appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #referral traffic #post publishers #facebook announced

Friday Wake-Up Call: Facebook Deals a Blow to Publishers, and Marriott Gets Punished For a Gaffe

GaffeChinese authorities are punishing a foreign brand -- Marriott International -- by shutting down its China website and app for a week. What happened?Marriott's wording on a customer survey upset the powers that be. In a user survey, the hotel chain "listed Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #hong kong #hotel chain

Wednesday Wake-Up Call: The Future of Ads on Amazon's Alexa. Plus, Diageo Suspends Snapchat Ads

Vice: Vice Media suspended President Andrew Creighton and Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano as it probes harassment complaints about them, Bloomberg News reports.Out: Patrick Scissons is out as KBS' global chief creative officer, after a year marked by high-profile departures from the agency,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #neil young

Industry Notes: Paul Auster at Guadalajara; Amazon Publishing on Short Writings

At Mexico’s Guadalajara International Book Fair, which runs through Sunday, Paul Auster has talked of turning to novels after ‘hitting a wall’ with poetry. And Amazon Publishing introduces a new imprint for short-form work. By Adam Critchley And Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief |... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #porter anderson #amazon publishing #paul auster

Amazon Publishing Launches New Imprint

Amazon Original Stories will publish short fiction and nonfiction works available in the Kindle Singles store. The new imprint has launched with two titles, including one by Joyce Carol Oates. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #nonfiction works

Amazon Alleges Violations by KDP Authors, Publishers

Amazon has filed arbitration complaints against five individuals who it claims offered services to KDP authors and publishers intended to help them manipulate the reading platform for financial gain. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #financial gain #reading platform

Amazon's Naggar tells publishers to slash ebook prices

Amazon’s publishing chief David Naggar has said publishers should slash their ebook prices to 99p to sell more books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ebook prices

Self-published archaeological thriller takes £20,000 Amazon award

The Relic Hunters by David Leadbeater is inaugural winner of online retailer’s DIY publishing prizeThe writer David Leadbeater has struck gold with his self-published archaeological thriller, The Relic Hunters, scooping up the first Amazon Kindle Storyteller award.Leadbeater pronounced it “a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #struck gold #online retailer #inaugural winner #david leadbeater #relic hunters

Best of the week: Amazon makes push for video publishers

This week, our top stories examined Amazon’s video platform and Facebook’s tool that will give publishers more Instant Articles performance data. The post Best of the week: Amazon makes push for video publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #give publishers #video platform #video publishers

Look out, YouTube and Facebook: Amazon’s coming for video publishers

Amazon has paid out "tens of millions" of dollars to video publishers self-distributing on Amazon Prime -- and that's just one way to make money through Amazon. The post Look out, YouTube and Facebook: Amazon’s coming for video publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #make money #video publishers

Best of the week: Publishers are embracing Amazon

This week, our top stories covered magazine publishers’ relationship with Amazon, consumer trust in ads and life as a new mother at an ad agency. The post Best of the week: Publishers are embracing Amazon appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ad agency