Booksquare

Last week, we discussed the recent Random House decision to cut ebook royalties. And we remain surprised at the relative lack of uproar on this topic — this is a big deal, and we believe other publishers will take further liberties with these type of royalties, counting on the fact that most authors don’t understand the technology or royalty accounting (it’s a bit like algebra, but with real numbers). In an unrelated but topically similar story, we learn that changes in statutory pricing has a positive effect on readers in Scotland, is pretty good for the publishers, and hits the author directly in wallet. And because the market is increasingly driven by the bottom line, books that won’t do the big numbers are being squeezed out of the market — as are smaller publishers who don’t pay to display. There must be balance somewhere.

• It’s time the publishing industry turned over a new leaf
• Booktrade Summary: It’s time the publishing industry turned over a new leaf