Let’s take a look at the most important Publishing News around the world.
Bulletin N°5
The Publishing Guide
Kindle is no longer available in China
Amazon announced on June 2nd, that the Chinese Kindle bookstore would close on June 30. However, the platform will still work for another year and Amazon will refund all the kindle users who purchased the device this year. By 2024, Kindle apps will no longer be available to download from the App Store.
This announcement comes after several companies have already made changes to their China portfolio including Microsoft, Yahoo, LinkedIn and Airbnb. This due to the government’s efforts to tighten control over online content. Plus the new laws on data sharing and customer privacy.
To read this article in Publishing Perspectives. Click here!
Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair postponed
The book fair that had already been postponed from March to July will now take place in November due to COVID-19. Despite Shanghai’s efforts to ease all restrictions, there are still quarantines and micro-lockdowns in the city. These circumstances would have affected the fair in July, reason why organizers decided to move it to November.
At the moment the book fair has not announced a digital or hybrid event. The organizers are ready to offer exhibition opportunities to international and national publishers.
This fair is definitely an important one for all publishers on the Chinese market since it is the source of many rights agreements. As it was reported during its 2019 edition with a total of 1,498 rights agreements.
Read the entire article here.
May, France ‘Mois du livre audio’
The Syndicat Nationale de l’édition (SNE-France) announced May as the Audio Book month for the country. This comes as a great surprise in the industry since the french market has always been resistant to all types of digital publishing.
CCC acquires Ringgold
The Copyright Clearance Center has acquired Ringgold. This persistent identifier or PID will give any intellectual property identification across several platforms. In this context, Ringgold uses various systems to confirm who owns a piece of intellectual property.
Sharjah, guest of honour in Seoul
On June 20 it was announced that Sharjah will be the guest of honour at Seoul’s International Book Fair in 2023. Sharjah’s program for 2023 is expected to be composed by Emirati artists, authors and publishers. This will also be an opportunity to celebrate Arab culture.
Colombia, guest of honour in Barcelona
One of the most important events of the Spanish publishing world “La Feria Internacional del Libro,” in Spain, or as many people call it “Liber 22,” has announced Colombia as the guest of honour. This is not the only invitation the country has received since it was also a guest of honour at the Seoul International Book Fair.
The main aim that Colombia will have during this book fair is trying to recover the pre-pandemic levels of contemporary literature. As guest of honour, Colombia’s place at the Liber 22 will be in the Recinto Gran Via venue.
Read the full article in Publishing Perspectives here!
LGBTQ Book Sales Increase
The NPD Group has reported an increase in book sales for works dedicated to LGBTQ content. Just in 2021, the sales reach close to 5 million units doubling the report from last year. NPD says that the largest percentage comes from young adult fiction.
This is a trend that is continuing during this year. So far young adult fiction is leading the sales with a 55 percent increase compared to 2021.
Read the article here.