With news this week that Amazon has added whole new international markets to its list of places where authors and publishers can earn a 70% royalty on ebooks, the rumors and misinformed half-truths have begun swirling again as authors set out to decipher the terms. Amazon sent out an email to many of its authors, informing them that two more countries--Ireland and … [Read more...] about Debunking Amazon’s 70% Royalty for Indie Authors and Publishers
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No News Is Still News for Amazon, Hachette Dispute
A headline in the Wall Street Journal today promised that a senior executive at Amazon had finally spoken openly about the ongoing dispute between the online retail giant and Hachette Book Group, one of the mainstays of publishing and a member of the Big Five. And the remarks attributed did come from VP Russ Grandinetti, but that's really where the amazement of the announcement … [Read more...] about No News Is Still News for Amazon, Hachette Dispute
Washington Post: What Would Bezos Do?
It's no secret that newspapers as a whole are on the decline. Some of the longest-standing family-owned outlets in the country have already shuttered their doors, and the ones who are managing to stay afloat are doing so with the help of digitization efforts and an online presence. This characteristic of journalistic publishing made the news this past spring that Jeff Bezos, … [Read more...] about Washington Post: What Would Bezos Do?
US Publishers Earn More through Online Sales than Physical Stores
In a report from two entities that watch the publishing industry in the US, sales figures for 2013 show some surprising trends. These trends, followed by the Book Industry Study Group and the Association of American Publishers in their annual BookStats report, found several interesting changes in certain genres of the book market.Adult non-fiction made the leap above … [Read more...] about US Publishers Earn More through Online Sales than Physical Stores
Fan Fiction Romance Comes to Kindle Worlds
Amazon launched its Kindle Worlds fan fiction platform just over a year ago, and the concept has been a great success for both the rights holders who license content to the site and the fans who adore the concepts and story lines of their favorite authors. These reader fans have often taken to writing their own continuation of the stories once the book ends, largely due to the … [Read more...] about Fan Fiction Romance Comes to Kindle Worlds
Allegations that Amazon Seeks New Publishers Terms in UK
It's an understood truth in publishing that anyone who works for the industry keeps a tight lid on information, especially where sales talk is concerned. From numbers of units sold to overall sales of any given book, no one is going to speak up with specifics unless he has to (or unless he's a pioneer like Hugh Howey who wants to see transparency in order to foster good … [Read more...] about Allegations that Amazon Seeks New Publishers Terms in UK
CNBC Produces 1 Hour Show about Amazon
Amazon is a global e-commerce giant that capitalized on selling physical books online and then diversified into eBooks. The company is notoriously silent when it comes to the inner workings of life in Seattle and once in awhile we get an introspective, such as the Anything Store by Brad Thor. CNBC has produced a new one hour documentary telling the story of a shrewd visionary … [Read more...] about CNBC Produces 1 Hour Show about Amazon
Prime Music Adds Real Value to Amazon Prime Subscription
Amazon Prime is a full-featured subscription service to begin with --though the recent addition of Prime Music sweetens the pot considerably. Consider Prime Music as an extension to the old Amazon MP3 service --comprised of 3 functions: a library of all the tracks you own, a store where you are able to buy new music, and a place to listen to new music and discover new … [Read more...] about Prime Music Adds Real Value to Amazon Prime Subscription
Should Amazon Play Nice with Hachette, Publishers?
An article appeared this past week in the New York Times that finally shows a bookseller and book industry professional doing something about Amazon. Instead of blog posts about the retail giant's underhanded ways or entire three-day conferences devoted to how publishers can bring down the largest online retailer their industry faces, one book shop is going about the … [Read more...] about Should Amazon Play Nice with Hachette, Publishers?
Pay by the Month for Amazon Fire TV
Amazon has been running an installment program for the last six months for their e-readers and Fire tablets. It allows customers to pay monthly for the device instead of all at once. In order to drive more sales to the new Fire TV the company has quietly unveiled a new installment plan starting at $19.20 US.The Fire TV is only available in the US and features a 1.7 GHZ … [Read more...] about Pay by the Month for Amazon Fire TV
How The Washington Post Can Bring Down Its Owner’s Company
We've been hearing the question for some time now: What do we have to do to bring down Amazon?Some companies have even tried it, which led to a pretty ugly Department of Justice investigation and resulting lawsuit, one whose damages are reportedly going to be well into the one billion dollar mark before it's over. Of course, even within the bounds of the law publishers have … [Read more...] about How The Washington Post Can Bring Down Its Owner’s Company
Hachette to Cut 3% of US Staff
Hachette Book Group, who is currently engaged in a tumultuous battle with Amazon, sent out a statement to its employees regarding news that they would begin a round of layoffs that would cut three percent of its US staff, or roughly thirty people. According to the company, this news is unrelated to the drama unfolding over sales contracts with the world's largest book retail … [Read more...] about Hachette to Cut 3% of US Staff
Amazon Offering Fire TV & Kindle Fire HDX Tablet Bundle
Everybody likes to get a good deal, which is why the bundle being offered by Amazon right now is especially attractive. With that extra $249 in your pocket, you can own Amazon's brand new Fire TV as well as a 7" Kindle Fire HDX tablet: consider it the Android accessory pack for those of you who only have a smartphone so far (or a starter pack for those who may have … [Read more...] about Amazon Offering Fire TV & Kindle Fire HDX Tablet Bundle
Apple Request to Delay Damages Trial Rejected by Appeals Court
In the ongoing legal battles involving Apple over antitrust violations in an ebook price fixing case, it seems the technology giant just can't catch a break. Between rulings against the company for its involvement with colluding with most of the Big Five publishers, to having an outsider officer appointed to oversee its operations, it feels like every time Apple sees a … [Read more...] about Apple Request to Delay Damages Trial Rejected by Appeals Court