Kindle lending: Book publishers still not getting it
The big six book publishers are already behind the eight ball when it comes to the digital disruption of their business: Amazon, for example, is not only helping writers distribute their books without needing a publisher at all, but is also moving in on the traditional players by signing up authors itself. So what do these publishers do? Try to compete by offering more digital features and benefits for writers? No. They drag their feet and resist adapting as much as possible. Case in point: Amazon launches a lending program for the Kindle, a kind of “Netflix for books.” How many of the major publishers are involved? Zero.
Book publishers can’t see the world changing before them and are looking as puzzled as the music moguls were when the digital revolution began.