Quote:
Originally Posted by rhadin
I think the Big 6 would be surprised to learn that they are a cartel/monopoly and have such market power. In the United States, nearly 1.3 million books were published in 2011. Of that number, about 225,000 were published by the Big 6.
Also, in 2011, there were more than 50,000 "traditional" publishers in the United States and several hundred thousand self-publishers.
In addition, to say that the Big 6 "have a monopoly on pbooks" implies (assumes?) that 1 pbook can readily be substituted for another pbook, something that few readers or authors would agree on. As is often said, even here on MR, if I want to read Stephen King I want to read Stephen King, not Dean Koontz. Consequently, in the microsense every publisher and self-publisher is a monopolist because more than one publisher does not publish a title in a market.
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Ah, but if you simply back away from the fact that each book is unique, the publication system is absolutely a monopoly in the hands of the biggest players and has been for decades. They have been in control with a tight fist over who and what gets published and when. Oh sure there are a few minor exceptions .. authors who self-publish through small companies, but that is no more than a drip in the ocean which is controlled by the big 6.
The ebook, internet and technology has brought it to an end. They better get on board or get out. Right now they are only trying everything they can to keep the future from happening.