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Originally Posted by pwalker8
Getting back to the original point of the thread, I don't really think that Amazon has cracked the subscription model. In a broad sense, I would break people who read books into two camps, one camp buys and keeps books, the other camp reads a book and then discards it (return it to the library or sale at a used book store) and moves on to the next book. I don't see where this model suits either camp. A subscription model where you read one book at a time and then return it and pick another one would be more suitable for many people. On the other hand, I don't know how many best sellers would be willing to go that route.
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As I said above, I think the majors' participation in a subscription plan would be limited at best , at least at the beginning. I can see a business case for them offering only shorter work ( Kindle Singles) , which are usually priced at 2.99 or less.
I think you are wrong in suggesting that subscription models will only succeed if premium content (bestsellers) are offered. There are subscription models that work without offering the latest and the greatest (see Netflix streaming or Amazon Video). For example , I have Netflix Streaming but also rent from iTunes and go to first run movies to see the premium, first run stuff.
I can see someone subscribing to Amazon but also buying bestsellers separately.
I can also see Amazon offering a mostly indie Standard plan and a Premium plan that might include bestsellers. That would involve negotiations with the majors and lots of lawyers but the majors aren't rigidly opposed to a subscription plan, if there is something in it for them