Did the Publishing Industry Learn from the Mistakes of the Music Business?

Rob Reid recently wrote a piece for the Wall Street Journal called “What To Do When Attacked by Pirates” claiming that, for the most part, publishers have avoided stumbling over the same hurdles that weakened the music industry over the past decade. It seems that the publishing establishment has had the benefit of wading into their digital revolution with 10-year’s hindsight.

But BookBaby’s pal Cory Doctorow is not so certain. As a hater of all things DRM and proprietary, Cory is quick to point out that publishers have made a couple of those same mistakes– and big ones. An interesting discussion is occurring on the topic at his blog Boing Boing. Check it out HERE.

What do you think? Have big publishers learned from the major labels? Is it too soon to tell? Is the traditional system for book creation, distribution, and promotion about to collapse, reinvent itself entirely, or something in between?

Traditional publishing? Why wait? Sell your book today for Kindle, iPad, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and more!

Chris Robley

About Chris Robley

Chris Robley has written 372 posts in this blog.

splits his time between the Portlands Oregon and Maine, always longing for the other. He plays music on the West Coast and writes poems on the East. His music has been praised by NPR, the LA Times, the Boston Globe, and others. Skyscraper Magazine said he is “one of the best short-story musicians to come along in quite some time.” Robley’s poetry is forthcoming in Prairie Schooner, RHINO, Pacifica Literary Review, and The Fine Line.

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