Subscribe to RSS 2.0The daftness of publishers
I have just had an insight into publisher brands, and it wasn't pretty.
So it's a dark and stormy night, and I'm half-heartedly pursuing my hobby of trying to find Robert Smith's contact details on the net (so I can do the book I so badly want to do: a slim poetry-like volume of all the Cure's lyrics, presented as poetry. For that's what they are - life-changing, life-shaping, life-enhancing poetry. Sigh.) whilst doing some admin. So I go to his label's site - been there before, no luck, but you know what internet searches are like - you end up visiting the same places. And it strikes home when I see a form box inviting me to sign up to Geffen's email newsletter. Why on earth would I want to do that? To get updates on Mary J Blige, Snoop Dogg, Keyshia Cole and Lifehouse, and maybe twice a year on the Cure when they announce a concert? Er, hardly. But, on the other hand, I'm a signed-up devotee of thecure.com.
It's just the same with publishers. Unless you're my mum (hello, mum!) you probably don't like Needle in the Blood *and* Monster Island *and* Lint *and* Adept *and* City Cycling. But I bet if you liked Needle in the Blood, you can't wait for Book of Love.
Authors are the things that people are interested in, just like I'm interested (heh) in Robert Smith. I couldn't give a wet slap about Geffen. And sure - their site is pretty, and loaded with info, and shiny bits and tunes and whatnot. But it's too fractured, too diluted. And not at all human.
Maybe because Snowbooks is obviously run by people, not robots, we'll be ok. Maybe there's enough human interest to keep you guys interested. It's funny - I do feel sorry for big companies. Everything's changing, and they're too slow to react. The future's about meaningful interactions with real people, not call centres and corporate-speak. Thank god Rob and I escaped the rats in time.
What do you think? Are publishers - music or book - redundant? Can trade publishers have a brand? Are we doomed? Or are friendly little boutique companies going to be increasingly what people want?
Comments: 4
People like reliable central points of information. Publisher's who provide that - by giving of thier philosophies and personalities - are too rare. I'll take a chance on a Snowbooks publication, or a Pendragon Press, or Necessary Evil Press, because I understand the sensibilities driving the people publishing the book. Can I say that about the big corporate publishers? Of course not.
Posted by: Richard Wright on January 9, 2008 10:47 PM
OTOH becoming a fan of small publisher's and their blogs has opened my tastes in novels tremendously, just as buying "Nice Enough to Eat" (a 1973 Island record company sampler) opened me to Nick Drake and King Crimson, when I'd only bought it for the Jethro Tull track.
Posted by: Rachel Green on January 9, 2008 11:57 PM
I'm with Richard. Even if it's not a genre I'd generally like, I'd take a chance on a Snowbooks book anyway, because your judgment seems to be quite good.
Posted by: KatharineC on January 10, 2008 01:53 PM
Yes, authors are what readers are first interested in - but a well-known author's name alone no longer guarantees sales, particularly in the case of nonfiction. Publishers still determine whether the final manuscript succeeds or fails.
In past years, many nonfiction books from the UK were fortunate to secure publishers with good budgets who used professional models and photography, good paper, and well-drawn illustrations by talented art departments.
With the decline in book sales and profits, that's largely a thing of the past - just when the publishing industry faces its greatest competition from web media.
Inadequate book development budgets, amateurish photography (often by the author himself using relatives or anyone to hand, ack!) lack of editing oversight, failure to do diligence in fact checking, etc. can make all the difference in whether a book succeeds or is relegated to the clearance section.
Posted by: Robert Long on April 13, 2008 10:34 PM