Quote:
Originally Posted by CommonReader
Again, if the publishers are so irrelevant, why doesn't Amazon simply do woithout their offerings?
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I haven't seen anybody say they are irrelevant to Amazon.
The BPHs still generate about a third of their book revenue. Collectively. Individually, only the randy penguin can hurt Amazon enough to be noticed if they pulled their titles when their contract expires. Besides, every little bit helps the bottom line...
What the BPHs are is increasingly less valuable to authors (even the gold-plated gang) and open minded readers. And for most authors, they are less valuable than what they charge for their services. Some are willing to put up with this declining value but every day more and more authors are learning to vote their pocketbook.
You are, however, correct that if all the BPHs pull their titles from Amazon simultaneously they will end up back in court real fast. But it won't be because of the DOJ; it would be because four of the five would be breaking an existing contract.