Book Publishing Predictions for this Decade
January 8, 2010
With the beginning of a new year, we also celebrate a new decade. And with that, many make prognostications.
I am a trend watcher and so when I came across Seth Godin’s predictions, I had to share them here on my blog.
Here is what he says about publishing this decade…
“This is the decade when book publishing will (finally) be transformed from a business that chops down trees and puts returnable books into bookstores… into one that finds ideas, funds the writers that need it, and uses their (authors’ and publishers’) leverage and skills to promote those ideas to people willing to pay for them, in whatever format is the most efficient way to get that transaction to occur.”
I can not think of a better way to frame the discussion of what a publisher is. Over the past several years, this has been the direction that my company, Maui Media, has been going.
Seth concludes his prediction with another more dire one for the publishing industry if it choses not to evolve…
“If that doesn’t happen, and the industry (led by reactionary old-school CEOs) persists in defining itself as being in the book business, it will be 15% the size it is today by the end of the decade. It’s our choice.”
I encourage you to check out Seth’s comments and a broader discussion of publishing predictions for this decade.
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