Continued freefall. So far in 2011, sales of adult hardcovers and trade paperbacks are down 23% and 18% compared to last year (which was a slump). Sales of mass market paperbacks are down 30%. Sales of children's hardcovers and paperbacks are off by 6% and 15%.
Sales of e-books rose 160%.
Since the last dismal sales update: Borders has gone out of business, axing 11,000 employees; LivingSocial has closed its books section; and today the Los Angeles Times killed three of its books columns: Discoveries, Paperbacks, and Word Play. The LAT spokesperson then had the gall to say, "We have not changed our commitment to book coverage."
Proving how little traditional publishing has learned about the changing world, Guardian writer Nick Davies has just signed a deal to write a book about the Murdoch hacking scandal to be published in the fall. Of 2012. When it will be drowned out by the 24/7 madhouse of the elections. Obvs, the story is unfinished now but people do not want to wait fifteen or eighteen months for in-depth hot topic reporting.
[Photo detail via]
I can't believe the LA Times would be stupid enough to kill those good columns. I want to read every one of them. Who do they think reads newspapers? And what do they look for? But the "freefall" graphic is perfect--it's almost hypnotizing. Then you remember that these are books that are going to go "splat" and the Times won't even notice.
Posted by: clt | August 02, 2011 at 12:38 PM