Amazon is just acting as the publisher, even though this may set aside many other "print" publishers, assuming Amazon is publishing in digital media form. Be informed that there are many, myself included, who like to read a book in print form. I also like to read on a Kindle or Tablet as well. Bottom line, I don't think the print media form will disappear anytime soon. JMHO
This may be a matter of semantics, but Amazon is primariry acting as the
seller, not as the
publisher, and if it is acting as a publisher it is not doing it in the traditional way:
- Providing an advance (sometimes) -- Amazon won't
- Advertising and promoting the book (sometimes) -- Amazon won't (except what they do at their website at no cost for themselves)
- Taking 75% to 90% of the revenue (always) -- Amazon takes 25% to 30%
The good news is, from what I understand, that book publishers use a revenue model that is less predatory than that of music publishers, so they should be able to adapt easier to the new world. Unlike music publishers there are real costs involved with printed books and they should be able to work with lower royalties as cost sink at the same time.
Print might never really go away--especially for “coffee table books” but it can be expected that effectively it will for the regular text-only novel. For those that do prefer to read their book on dead trees, there will not be books of the regular press but print-on-demand instead.
Book publishers will see their role diminished to the luxury books, and to authors that want to sell their books in different languages. But that means dealing with best-selling authors who can demand much better contracts than they get right now. On the other hand the publishing risk of those books is much lower as well.
