FutureBook Digital Census Report Is Available

This report, which is available for purchase, covers the views of publishers, authors, developers, and booksellers. For the year 2012, five percent of the respondents were self-publishers, two-fifths of whom were new to the industry as of 2012.

The report’s key findings were summarized in an email I received today:

eBooks continue to increase in number with fully 90% of those in the publishing industry having read a book or journal digitally. Dedicated e-reading devices are still the most popular form of reading, but the use of tablets has doubled since 2010.

There is no agreement on ebook pricing, except that they should cost less than print;

eBooks are sold by 90% of publishers and are the preferred format over apps. 40% of publishers claim that digital sales make up over 10% of their revenue. Two-thirds think that by the end of next year this will increase, and by the end of the decade about half of responding publishers think they will be earning more from digital than from print.

There is no consensus on royalty  levels, territorial rights, piracy, and the use of DRM.

Publishers are divided on the lending of ebooks through libraries, with 20% either not allowing e-lending or placing restrictions on borrowing.

Booksellers are way behind publishers in digital readiness, but 60% of them now sell in digital format. However, for two-thirds of booksellers, digital sales are less than 3% of revenues.

80% of authors say their books are available in digital format, but they feel that publishers should do a better job of marketing, pricing, and developing sales strategies.

The full report costs £97 for subscribers and £127 for non-subscribers. It is available here.