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Originally Posted by Andrew H.
I think the question you have to ask with a subscription service is why the publishers/authors would offer it. For it to work, there has to be some value added for the publisher/author above what they get under the existing system.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew H.
Similarly, I don't see a rhapsody or e-music type subscription model working because I don't see how the authors/publishers can make any money from it - it would basically just cannibalize sales.
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A big part of the appeal of these systems is that they don't "cannibalize sales," but increase exposure for most entrants to the system. The biggest authors and publishers may be able to afford to go it alone, though in books more than music, it's hardly a certainty. What's more certain is that a subscriber is going to download their 2-3 books per month, where they may otherwise have bought one book every month or six weeks, or obtained the work entirely outside your profit model.
What happens psychologically when these subscription offers are on the market is that people who spend any money whatsoever on your medium know they could be spending less per item with your service, even if they wouldn't normally purchase that many items in the same time frame, and at the same time those who are skirting your profit model entirely see a reasonable option for obtaining the work legitimately. Find that sweet spot and, even if Ken Follet and Stephen King don't sign up, you're guaranteed a sizable niche that will become more attractive to content providers over time.