eBook subscription service Scribd is removing an unspecified — but apparently significant — quantity of romance and erotica titles from their catalog. The news was publicized by Smashwords ceo Mark Coker on his company blog, where he estimated that that “80-90 percent of Smashwords romance and erotica titles will be dropped by Scribd, including nearly all of our […]
Archives for June 2015
Bookselling: Amazon Expands in Mexico; Indigo Expands Store Discounts; and More
Two years after launching its Kindle store in Mexico, Amazon has expanded to offer a broad spectrum of physical goods, including printed books, at http://amazon.com.mx/. Offerings include the three versions of the Kindle e-reader. Indigo will now discount 100 top-selling and bookseller-recommend books by 40 percent, ceo Heather Reisman tells the Globe & Mail, “looking for some […]
Appeals Court Upholds Verdict Against Apple, with Notable Dissent
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Apple’s appeal of the verdict finding them guilty of antitrust violations in launching the iBookstore, upholding District Court Judge Denise Cote’s initial finding. Judge Debra Ann Livingston writes the majority opinion in the 2-1 ruling: “We conclude that the district court’s decision that Apple orchestrated a horizontal conspiracy […]
People, Etc.
David Hawk joins Ten Speed Press on July 6 as senior marketing and publicity manager. Previously he was a marketing and publicity manager at Chronicle Books, specializing in food and drink titles. Yuka Igarashi will join Catapult as web editor-in-chief in August. Previously she was managing editor at Granta. Awards Deborah Johnson has won the […]
Disney Division that Includes Publishing Merges with Interactive Unit
Disney announced that their Consumer Products and Interactive divisions will be combined into Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI), run jointly by co-chairs Leslie Ferraro (also president of Disney Consumer Products) and Jimmy Pitaro (also president ofDisney Interactive). The company says the move is “in response to changing consumer preferences in a marketplace increasingly influenced by technology.” COO Tom Staggs says […]
Book Sales Fell Slightly at Barnes & Noble, As Nook Shed Employees
Barnes & Noble filed their full annual SEC report, subsequent to their basic earnings release last Thursday, which offers more specific details about the company’s performance. Perhaps most relevant are the breakdowns on sales at the BN Retail unit. As reported last week, overall sales in this division decreased $186.9 million in the just-closed fiscal year, at […]