Sergent opens his mouth again

mcl · 02-04-2010, 07:10 PM

http://www.sfwa.org/2010/02/new-comm...-macmilan-ceo/

I think this may be the straw that makes me send my kindle back.

Quote:

We have also started discussions with all our other partners in the digital book world. While there is still lots of work to be done, they have all agreed to move to the agency model.

kjk · 02-04-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

And now on to royalties. Three or four weeks ago, we began discussions with the Author’ s Guild on their concerns about our new royalty terms. We indicated then that we would be flexible and that we were prepared to move to a higher rate for digital books. In ongoing discussions with our major agents at the beginning of this week, we began informing them of our new terms. The change to an agency model will bring about yet another round of discussion on royalties, and we look forward to solving this next step in the puzzle with you.

Interested to see if they announce the new rates when they solve that step.

kennyc · 02-04-2010, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcl

http://www.sfwa.org/2010/02/new-comm...-macmilan-ceo/

I think this may be the straw that makes me send my kindle back.

Ptttt! I think he's talking about Jobs....

BTW, I just posted this reply:

"I hope your authors leave in droves because you are doing them a vast disservice! This is the 21st century, please act like it."

fugazied · 02-04-2010, 08:13 PM

It would be interesting to see the nitty gritty as to how much they give authors for each book sold. If an author with Macmillan gets more than $1.50 for the sale of a $15 ebook I would be surprised.

One thing for sure, Sergent has damaged Macmillan's reputation with e-book consumers.

asjogren · 02-04-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fugazied

One thing for sure, Sergent has damaged Macmillan's reputation with e-book consumers.

And Public Library patrons.

Guns4Hire · 02-04-2010, 09:19 PM

The guy is a joke. These dinosaurs in the industry need to hire someone that has a grasp on the digital world. Setup a completely new dept and let the geeks go to work.

delphidb96 · 02-04-2010, 09:23 PM

What gets me is how he thinks his 'legacy "print division"' costs somehow should be borne by the ebooks he wants to market. And his whole attitude is almost "we're too big to let fail". Sorry Sargent, NO business is too big to let fail.

Derek

bwaldron · 02-04-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Sorry Sargent, NO business is too big to let fail.

I used to think that.

sabredog · 02-04-2010, 09:37 PM

I added my comment...

"I am amazed that all the blundering of the music/movie industry attempting to retain and enforce a totally outmoded distribution system has not come to your attention. It plainly has not has it? Instead of embracing the 21st century and the changes it has wrought like Baen has done, you have dug in your heels and refused to change. The demise of the Dodo comes to mind."

whitearrow · 02-04-2010, 09:41 PM

Not a word to readers during this whole thing. We obviously don't matter.

BeccaAnn · 02-04-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asjogren

And Public Library patrons.

I gather from what little I've read on this forum, he doesn't like ebooks for libraries, but does anyone have a link to the article or whatever, where he states this?

kennyc · 02-04-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaAnn

I gather from what little I've read on this forum, he doesn't like ebooks for libraries, but does anyone have a link to the article or whatever, where he states this?

Well there's this:

http://www.mobilitysite.com/2009/10/...-love-stories/

colinsky · 02-04-2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaAnn

I gather from what little I've read on this forum, he doesn't like ebooks for libraries, but does anyone have a link to the article or whatever, where he states this?

Quote:

As digital collections grow, Mr. Sargent said he feared a world in which “pretty soon you’re not paying for anything.” Partly because of such concerns, Macmillan does not allow its e-books to be offered in public libraries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/bo...es.html?src=tp

rmm200 · 02-04-2010, 10:46 PM

What has been stated is not that he doesn't like ebooks for libraries - but that no MaMiillan EBook will ever be in a library anywhere. Sounds like more than dislike to me.

I would like to see the reference too - I would like to post it so I don't forget who the bad guys are.

Robert

da_jane · 02-04-2010, 10:46 PM

Here is Macmillan's full page ad in the NYT

http://www.mediabistro.com/eBookNewser/

"Available at booksellers everywhere except Amazon."

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02-04-2010, 08:13 PM	#4
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	It would be interesting to see the nitty gritty as to how much they give authors for each book sold. If an author with Macmillan gets more than $1.50 for the sale of a $15 ebook I would be surprised. One thing for sure, Sergent has damaged Macmillan's reputation with e-book consumers.

02-04-2010, 09:19 PM	#6
Guns4Hire Reading...Since 1970 Posts: 610 Karma: 7819 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nova Air C, Nova Pro, LifebookMars, BoyueT62+ Glowlight, NST, PB360	The guy is a joke. These dinosaurs in the industry need to hire someone that has a grasp on the digital world. Setup a completely new dept and let the geeks go to work.

02-04-2010, 09:23 PM	#7
delphidb96 Wizard Posts: 2,999 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Citrus Heights, California Device: TWO Kindle 2s, one each Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS-500, Axim X51V	What gets me is how he thinks his 'legacy "print division"' costs somehow should be borne by the ebooks he wants to market. And his whole attitude is almost "we're too big to let fail". Sorry Sargent, NO business is too big to let fail. Derek

02-04-2010, 09:37 PM	#9
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,630 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	I added my comment... "I am amazed that all the blundering of the music/movie industry attempting to retain and enforce a totally outmoded distribution system has not come to your attention. It plainly has not has it? Instead of embracing the 21st century and the changes it has wrought like Baen has done, you have dug in your heels and refused to change. The demise of the Dodo comes to mind."

02-04-2010, 09:41 PM	#10
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	Not a word to readers during this whole thing. We obviously don't matter.

02-04-2010, 10:46 PM	#14
rmm200 Groupie Posts: 195 Karma: 414 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bend, OR Device: Sony PRS-600	What has been stated is not that he doesn't like ebooks for libraries - but that no MaMiillan EBook will ever be in a library anywhere. Sounds like more than dislike to me. I would like to see the reference too - I would like to post it so I don't forget who the bad guys are. Robert

02-04-2010, 10:46 PM	#15
da_jane Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 692 Join Date: Sep 2006 Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 \| Kindle Paperwhite \| iPad Mini	Here is Macmillan's full page ad in the NYT http://www.mediabistro.com/eBookNewser/ "Available at booksellers everywhere except Amazon."