Macmillan Tests Ebook Subscriptions
In the letter Sargent also intimated that he still had reservations about the subscription model, fearing that it may erode book sales. But, he said, "given the current financial and strategic incentives being offered, we believe the time is right to try this test."
In the August issue of Book Business, we featured an in-depth interview with Matthew Shatz, head of strategy and partnerships at Oyster. Shatz believes that today's book readers are motivated by a desire for easy access to content and will increasingly gravitate toward subscription models. "...Consumers really love the access model," said Shatz in the article. "The convenience of having content at their fingertips is really powerful for consumers, as shown by Spotify and Netflix, which had already gained some momentum."
Ellen Harvey is a freelance writer and editor who covers the latest technologies and strategies reshaping the publishing landscape. She previously served as the Senior Editor at Publishing Executive and Book Business.