One persistent, unanswered question is whether the generally negative press coverage of the standoff between Hachette Book Group and Amazon has had any effect on the etailer. In a recent survey of almost 5,300 buyers (completed July 19), Peter Hildick-Smith of the Codex Group reports finding high awareness of the dispute. Just over 39 percent of respondents indicated that they were aware of the standoff. (For comparison, 28 percent of books buyers are “aware” of Malcolm Gladwell and 35 percent are aware of Lee Child.) Among those book buyers aware of the dispute who have an opinion on that disagreement, 19 percent […]
Archives for July 2014
Unlimited Consequences
It’s early days for Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription program — day four to be exact — but there is already plenty to note among some of the unusual consequences of the program. For Self-Published Authors, The Deal Just Changed, To…? First and foremost is at least some misgivings among self-published authors about what KU will do to their incomes. As Michael Sullivan commented on Kindle Boards, our Publishers Lunch post, and elsewhere: “I’m really surprised at the ‘Two-tier’ system that Amazon has implemented. Traditional published titles are paid as if they were bought — such that these titles get full […]
People, Etc.
Start-up BitLit has announced a pilot program with Harper Collins. The publisher is testing the app that provides a discounted ebook as a bundled offer to a proven print book purchaser or owner on 6 titles for now (Halfway to the Grave, by Jeaniene Frost, Black Magic Sanction, by Kim Harrison, Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson, Wicked, by Gregory Maguire, The Success Principles by Jack Canfield, and 15 Seconds by Andrew Gross). In personnel news, at Harper Collins, Erin Gorham has been promoted to director, digital accounts, while Lindsey Kline has been promoted to digital sales specialist. Colleen Venable will join Workman […]
Jesse Ventura Defamation Trial Highlights Editorial & Marketing of AMERICAN SNIPER
Last Friday both sides in the defamation trial brought by former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura against the estate of Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL and author of AMERICAN SNIPER. At issue was an account in the book headlined “Punching Out Scruff Face” that described — though not by name — a 2006 bar fight purportedly between Ventura and Kyle, that Ventura believed harmed his reputation and helped boosted sales of AMERICAN SNIPER. Co-author Jim De Felice, William Morrow executive editor Peter Hubbard, and director of media relations Sharyn Rosenblum all testified for the defense, claiming by consensus, according to the […]
People
Scholastic has hired Lee Peters as svp, strategic marketing for Scholastic Education, reporting to division president Margery Mayer. “Peters will be responsible for helping shape the strategic direction of the division by guiding marketing and messaging across multiple major product lines within a unified Scholastic Education brand.” Most recently, he was vp of strategic marketing, North America for Pearson Education. Penny Makras has joined Harper as senior marketing manager. Previously she was a marketing manager at Wiley. At Norton, Alice Rha has been promoted to senior publicist and Lauren Opper has been named publicist.
Google Play Grows Again
Google reported second quarter earnings after the close of the market Thursday. The segment in which they report Google Play sales — “other revenues” — was up 53 percent compared to a year ago, and up 3 percent from the previous quarter. It comprised $1.6 billion for the quarter. The company said “digital sales of apps and content in our Play Store drove the year-over-year growth.” In the investors conference call, the company added that “Google Play continues to grow at breakneck speed across all types of digital content, helping developers and content partners reach users around the world.” At their IO […]