Self-published authors are facing major difficulties in selling their e-books online. Many bookstores are closing or scaling back and Amazon changed the rules for their Kindle Unlimited program, paying authors by pages read instead of when a book is opened. What is an author to do? Oyster announced last week that they were closing their company in early 2016 and most of the … [Read more...] about Self-Published Authors Have Fewer e-Book Distribution Options
Oyster
Oyster is Shutting Down their e-Book Subscription Service
Oyster has announced that they are shuttering their e-book subscription service in the next few months and customers will have to look for new options. The company raised over $17 million dollars during the lifespan of their company and this was not enough to keep them solvent. In a statement on the official Oyster Blog the company stated "we will be taking steps to sunset … [Read more...] about Oyster is Shutting Down their e-Book Subscription Service
Oyster Prioritizes Nighttime Reading
Oyster is one of the largest e-book subscription services in the US and they want to encourage you to read at night. Traditionally the bright screens on your smartphone or tablet make this difficult, but the company has just released a new feature called Lumin, which automatically adjusts your device's light levels based on the time of day. The result, they say, is better sleep … [Read more...] about Oyster Prioritizes Nighttime Reading
Kindle Unlimited is the Most Popular e-book Subscription Service
Kindle Unlimited is the latest entrant into Netflix for e-books subscription style of service. In a short period of time Amazon has managed to attain more paid members using its platform than the competition. The Codex Group has reported in their April 2015 consumer survey, 12.4% of digital book consumers have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. In comparison, only 1.4% of … [Read more...] about Kindle Unlimited is the Most Popular e-book Subscription Service
Oyster Launches New e-Book Store
Oyster is well known in the US as being one of the few companies that participate in the Netflix for e-books space. The company has the support of a number of notable publishers and currently competes heavily against their arch-rival Scribd. Today, in a big to differentiate itself for the competition, Oyster has just launched a new digital bookstore. Publishers have been … [Read more...] about Oyster Launches New e-Book Store
Harry Potter eBooks Now Available on Oyster
The entire notion of Netflix for e-Books has caught on in a big. A few years ago many publishers were resistant to the entire idea and gradually they have all come around. Oyster is one of the leaders in the field of e-book subscription services, where users pay a low monthly fee and get access to thousands of digital books they can read at their leisure. Today, the company is … [Read more...] about Harry Potter eBooks Now Available on Oyster
1,000 Macmillan e-Book Titles come to Scribd and Oyster
Scribd and Oyster are two of the largest e-Book subscription services out there and they have another reason for you to signup. Publishing giant Macmillan has committed themselves to their platforms, contributing over 1,000 titles. In late December Macmillan John Sargent announced that there were getting into the e-Book subscription business, in an attempt to broaden their … [Read more...] about 1,000 Macmillan e-Book Titles come to Scribd and Oyster
Will Subscription e-Book Sites Continue to be Viable in 2015?
One of the big trends of 2014 was the emergence of subscription services, where you pay a monthly fee and get access to thousands of e-books. Amazon Kindle Unlimited, Oyster, Entitle and Scribd have all gained the support of indie authors and publishers. How viable are their business models and will they continue to grow in 2015, or disappear entirely. Scribd is the … [Read more...] about Will Subscription e-Book Sites Continue to be Viable in 2015?
Oyster Signs e-Book Deal with Bloomsbury
Oyster has just signed an e-Book deal with Bloomsbury that will see 1,000 titles added to the US only platform. Some interesting reads include Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. We’re excited to partner with such an incredible publisher to make … [Read more...] about Oyster Signs e-Book Deal with Bloomsbury
Oyster Launches Online Literary Magazine
Oyster is hoping to appeal to literary buffs that aren't currently paying for their eBook subscription service. The company has launched a new online book blog that will feature original essays, book reviews and interviews with prestigious authors. Oyster’s editorial director, Kevin Nguyen described the publication as the company’s “latest discovery project,” explaining that … [Read more...] about Oyster Launches Online Literary Magazine
Blloon iOS App Competes with Leading e-Book Subscription Services
Some of us are already so hooked on reading that we can't imagine our lives without at least a few books on the go; believe it or not, others need a little extra motivation to flip those pages (literally or digitally). Fortunately a Berlin-based startup has a great idea: gamification. By following a freemium-based model, Blloon is an app that promises to engage readers with … [Read more...] about Blloon iOS App Competes with Leading e-Book Subscription Services
eBook Subscription Services are Not Viable
Penguin Random House UK CEO Tom Weldon has proclaimed that eBook subscription websites such as Amazon Unlimited, Scribd and Oyster are not viable business models. "We have two problems with subscriptions. We are not convinced it is what readers want. 'Eat everything isn't a reader's mindset. In music or film you might want 10,000 songs or films, but I don't think you want … [Read more...] about eBook Subscription Services are Not Viable
eBook Subscription Service Oyster, Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary
The publishing industry has been trying to crack the Netflix for eBooks concept for a number of years. Oyster is one of the bright spots, offering 500,000 eBook titles and has established relationships with over 1,600 distinguished publisher partners. Today, Oyster is celebrating their one year anniversary and offers some key metrics on their ecosystem. 500,000+ titles-- … [Read more...] about eBook Subscription Service Oyster, Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary
Oyster Adds Web-Based Mobile Reading to Its Platform
eBook subscriptions services are making headlines right now, especially following the launch of Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. In some ways, correlations can be made that two other pioneering subscription services--Scribd and Oyster--could have paved the way for KU, despite the various differences in their platforms. While other ebook subscription startups have been around … [Read more...] about Oyster Adds Web-Based Mobile Reading to Its Platform