Book publishing is not the music business, redux

When analysts are too close to the industry they’re commenting on there is a risk that they’ll see it as somehow being ‘special’.

Books are not music, but they're close

Publishing people like to say that "books are not music." However, look beyond the art form and you'll see remarkable similarities.

Principles

Mark Webber's media fracas Down Under

Last week Mark Webber did the unimaginable and terminated a radio interview after being repeatedly harassed by a hypocritical journalist.

Publishing

The best blog post on the cost of publishing - ever!

Finally a blog post that realistically breaks down the cost of publishing a commercially viable book.

Music Business

Warner Music nears digital divide, online music profitable

Warner Music Group announced this morning that online revenues in their North American recording operations reached 47% of total recorded music revenue.

Publishing

The price of everything and the value of nothing

I’ve been reading a worthwhile series of posts by Joel Friedlander on the cost of self-publishing. If you’re starting down the path of publishing your own book you may find Joel’s perspective helpful.

Publishing

Ebook rise may be slower than many think

The rise of ebooks as a dominate source of revenue for the book publishing industry, will be music slower than many think. The music business shows why.

Publishing

Publishing model critics look at wrong end of the deal

The book publishing industry is beset by an absurd debate about the integrity of certain business models. From vanity publishing to partnership publishing.

Publishing

Should book editors receive royalties?

Should book editors receive royalties, in the same way music producers receive royalties? The publishing industry is fighting to say no.

Publishing

Can authors survive on 10 percent royalties?

Book publishing deals inherently disadvantage authors to such a degree that there is little likelihood that they will ever make a full-time living.

Publishing

We've been SPUNC'd, author retained rights ignorance

My biz Red Hill Publishing applied a while ago to join SPUNC, the Small Press Underground Networking Community. Looks like a really worthwhile and important organisation. I wouldn’t know, our membership was declined.

Publishing

Queensland's non-existent publishing industry

The book publishing industry in Queensland has a long way to go if it is to compete with Sydney or Melbourne. The QWC is trying to change that.

Principles

Oh what a feeling! How not drinking can save your life

If you’re looking to lose some weight and find a little bounce in your day, think about not drinking alcohol for one month. That's all it takes.

Publishing

Price rises to stunt ebook market growth

The move by the major record labels to ‘variable pricing’ in the iTunes Store resulted in a slowing music sales. The same will be true of ebooks.

Publishing

Digital devolution: book publishing in the 21st Century

The book publishing business is having a debate that the music business solved half a decade ago. They'd do well to learn from the music business.

Keeping your ebooks regular, how to use regular expressions

If you’ve never heard of a regular expression and you’re about to jump into the world of ebook formatting, it's time to learn about regex.

Publishing

Missing metadata and dumb books, ebook superpower

Metadata is critical if you want search engines and publishing bookstores to accurately index your book.

Publishing

Who wants a date with the IRS?

Aussie authors looking to get published in the Amazon Kindle Store, be aware of withholding tax issues. You don't want the IRS to come knocking.

Marketing

Is your marketing a conversation, or one-way dialogue?

A few days ago I noted that many book publishing marketing books and blogs ignore the ‘r’ word: relationship. It is a key element in successful marketing.

Business

Futurists be damned, we need 'transitionists'

Futurists be damned, we need 'transitionists'

Publishing

Are book and media publishers really living in the past?

The publishing industry is in transition, as every publishing executive is aware. It is silly to suggest print publishers aren't focused on here and now.

Publishing

Who says authors can be stupid? Time to do the math!

Understanding the economics of book publishing will give you a competitive advantage. My analysis of a recent New York Times article on ebook economics.

Publishing

Book publishing 101: How to market your book

Marketing is the most important part of publishing a book. No matter how well written, until people are aware of the book it may as well not exist.

Publishing

Book publishing 101: the distribution myth

How important is distribution to the success of your book. I analyze a recent deal negotiation with a counterintuitive point of view.

Publishing

How a few hundred sales makes economic sense

He said he’d sold a little over 100 copies and that one day last week he’d made more money from selling books than his ‘day job’.