Thread: Now that's a business model...
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Old 12-05-2010, 10:32 PM   #58
Kali Yuga
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Quote:
Originally Posted by khalleron View Post
The big publishing houses are no different from any other corporation - no one thinks 20 years or even 5 years down the line.
mmmm

Most of the larger corporations have at least a decade of sales data. They know exactly how much they make from new sales and backlists.

If the midlist really was making money down the line, they'd keep the authors around.


Quote:
Originally Posted by khalleron
Which is the real reason the midlist is dying...
Actually, the midlist is not "dying." That's the whole point of the article that kicked this thread off. What is apparently happening is that as the big publishers prune the underperformers, most of them wind up at smaller publishers that provide more attention. Presumably (though not thoroughly discussed in the article) is that the sales figures aren't changing dramatically as a result.


Quote:
Originally Posted by kahlleron
It has nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the fanbase of the author. It has everything to do with the short-term bottom line.
mmmm

So, exactly how much money should a publisher invest in an highly reputable author with a contract for a big advance and small sales? If the author's books don't break even, how many more books -- with the larger advances typical of working with a big publisher -- should the publisher support?

And, of course, in the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" department: If they do support a bunch of underperforming writers, people excoriate them as an "inefficient" company that soaks the public, since the big hits have to subsidize the numerous small losses. Conversely, if they prune the underperformers, they're castigated as greedy capitalists who are sowing their own doom.

If you feel the need to assign blame -- which may not be appropriate, since it doesn't seem like anyone is getting too badly damaged here -- then a fair amount of it ought to be apportioned to the authors and their agents, who are asking for larger advances than in the past, which in turn makes it harder for their books to turn a profit.
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