[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Not anymore.
Didn't you see MacMillan's latest letter to all the important people in publishing?
(Artists, agents, and uh... oh, yes, authors)


I didn't bring in MGM on a whim: The BPHs are going to dump their entire backlists into subscription services and keep the frontlist sales-only.

With all due respect, that letter means nothing until it goes into action concerning the backlist. Dumping would mean to give something away for cheaper than it is worth, and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

In our search for new routes to market, we have been considering alternative business models including the subscription model.

The time is right now to consider this? Do they need to hurry before it is too late and Scribd / Oyster still got money to burn? The letter is clearly anti-Amazon, especially anti Kindle Unlimited.

Out of the letter:

Several companies offer “pay per read” plans that offer favorable economic terms.

mentions Scribd and Oyster, but definately not Kindle Unlimited. They will make a lot of money milking the cow all the way to the slaughter house while they can use the little trick to effectively remove the complete backlist from Amazon's influence. Hey, I had absolutely no idea that it hurts Amazon so much. It is not like the backlist is for sale anywhere anymore. Putting it into subscription without option to also buy the books is a big mistake, IMO. Making the backlist unavailable to Amazon only would also be a mistake (if it is even possible). Edit: to clarify, I meant to prohibit the sales on Amazon, not the subscription part.