Rather than recap what's already written, I'm going to quote the following bit about the Frankfurt Book Fair from yesterday's Publisher's Lunch (with my comments in brackets, of course):
"A Frankfurt hallmark is that some things never change (from booth locations to standing spots on the party schedule, etc.), but change is certainly in the air this year and on the floor. Booths of the biggest publishers sport elevated video screens (Penguin wins, with nine-panel jumbotrons for both Penguin and Pearson, with HarperCollins' six-panel display in second) [Jesus Christ! And these guys have the stones to complain that they're NOT making money!] and iPads have clearly won over the publishing crowd, seen driving meeting displays and note-taking all over [Well, how f*cking trendy -- good for you]. The fair introduced formal on-the-floor discussion stages and an ereading device display and cluster in Hall 8. And since many of the events and conferences are digitally focused, so is much of the coverage, even though the ebook market has yet to become real in most of the world. [Well, it's pretty f*cking real here in the U.S., let me tell you!]
"One well-attended on-the-floor discussion panel featured Google's Tom Turvey querying four executives on the digital transition. 'There's been a sea change in the past few months,' HarperCollins ceo Brian Murray said, [Hey, ya think???] now that for new bestsellers, 'in some cases, on some books, the ebooks are outselling the hardcovers.' [Gee, wonder why. Duh!] On digital royalty rates, Murray said '25 percent is fair and appropriate right now' [there's nothing I can say here that won't be completely obscene!] and he doesn't 'see anything on the horizon that makes me think that's going to change.' [Fine. You f*cking moron ...]
"Bloomsbury executive Evan Schnittman added, 'the real royalty rates are much higher' once you factor in unearned advances. [Uh, yeah. Tell me another one. I think this man would disagree.] 'What needs to be addressed is the entire cash-flow process, which is very different in digital than it is in print.' [Right. More bullsh*t. Thanks.] He added, 'I don't think anyone wants to have that conversation.' [Oh, yeah. I'll bet you don't!] Perseus executive Rick Joyce quipped that 'fighting over points is the hallmark of a non-growth business' and suggested that focusing on growth was the best solution. [Um, yeah, right. Whatever. The question is, what's in it for the authors? You know, those funny little people who write the damn books?]
"Turvey tried to explore the territorial rights issues raised by ebooks, but there were few takers. [Gosh, wonder why. Like anyone really knows this sh*t.] Schnittman said that 'language rights globally will be the dominant model' over time. Were where [sic] the agents during these remarks? Two halls away in the bigger-than-ever rights center making deals." [God help me, I'd certainly hope so. That's their f*cking job. Not listening to more bullsh*t from publishers.]
Okay, I think my work is done here. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment