Matt Steinmetz

Matt Steinmetz

Matt Steinmetz is the publisher and brand director of Publishing Executive.

Saying Goodbye to Publishing Business Conference & Expo, Hello to New “Live” Events Series

Like so many other industry trade shows, the Publishing Business Conference & Expo has seen many iterations. More than a decade ago it was a shrine to the power -- and profitability -- of print. The show took up three floors at the New York Hilton Hotel showcasing the latest and greatest equipment pressmakers, finishers, and printers had to offer publishers looking to drive their ink-on-paper-based publishing businesses forward.

Copyright Issues in a Digital World Continue to Cause Book Publishers Angst

Two sessions planned for next month's Publishing Business Conference's book publishing track that are attracting a lot of attention are “Rethinking Author Contracts for the Digital World” and “Rethinking Copyright for the Digital World.” But they have more in common than similar titles—both will be led by the Copyright Clearance Center's Christopher Kenneally. Kenneally agreed to give Publishing Business Insider readers a preview of his two sessions, which will be held Tuesday, March 9 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Apple's Agency Model 'Good in Theory' But Jury Still Out, Says Analyst

As publishers, authors, retailers and every other other book business constituency continues to struggle with the issue of pricing, Michael Norris, the senior editor and analyst of Simba Information's trade books group, weighed in with some data and intelligence he and his company have collected.

It's Official: iPad Is Here (and so is iBook Store)

In perhaps the worst-kept-secret in Silicon Valley history, Apple today announced the launch of a tablet device it's calling the iPad to an auditorium of press, tech folks and Apple fanboys.

2009 Gold Ink Awards

Widely regarded as the print industry’s most prestigious event, the 2009 Gold Ink Awards received more than 1,000 entries across 45 competitive categories, including Book Covers, Book Jackets, Books (Fine Editions), Softcover Books, Hardcover Books, Children’s Books, Fine Art Lithography, Cookbooks, to name a few. In all, 132 entries were selected for Gold, Silver or Bronze honors.

Change, Distribution Top List of Challenges for Indie Houses

It is a difficult time to be an independent book publisher. Fractured distribution models, soaring manufacturing costs, technology changing at breakneck speeds and the ongoing global recession are just a few of the threats coming at indies from all directions.

Book Sales Forecast to Grow (Slightly)

Book publishers combined to pull in $40.3 billion in net dollar sales in 2008, a 1-percent increase over 2007, according to Book Industry Study Group’s (BISG) “Book Industry Trends 2009.” Total unit sales, however, slipped 1.5 percent from 3.13 million in 2007 to 3.08 million last year.

Leaders in Digital Book Printing

Digital book printing, be it in the form of short-run or print-on-demand (POD), has unquestionably transformed the book business. While no longer in its infancy, digital printing and its economic benefits still remain a mystery to many publishers. Industry trade groups like the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), with its mission statement of “working to create a more informed, empowered and efficient book industry,” are pushing to further publishers’ understanding of the technology and its strengths and limitations. BISG’s forthcoming “Print On Demand for Dummies” book, created in collaboration with John Wiley & Sons and set to debut this summer, aims to help demystify the business of POD with a number of industry case studies.

Future of Book Publishing? Verticality and Communities, Says Shatzkin

Mike Shatzkin, founder and CEO of Idea Logical Co. and a noted publishing futurist, engaged a crowded room of BookExpo attendees with his predictions and prognostications in a session he called, "Stay Ahead of the Shift: What Product-centric Publishers Can Do to Evolve in a Community-centric Web World."

Event Focuses on Publishing Innovation

With no government bailout in sight to rescue their ailing industries, more than 1,200 book- and magazine-publishing executives convened at the 2009 Publishing Business Conference & Expo in New York City, March 23-25, in search of strategies to help them weather the worsening storm. And while much of the discussion centered around cost-cutting, the topic of innovation took center stage throughout the event, which featured nearly 60 educational sessions and more than 125 speakers.

'Read-it-First' Lets Readers Try Before They Buy

Matthew Baldacci has been marketing books for 17 years. Currently St. Martin’s Press’ vice president of marketing and publishing operations, he has seen a number of marketing strategies come and go, and is constantly on the lookout for innovative and creative ways to market the company’s some 700 titles a year. He and his team may be on to something with its relatively new “try before you buy” model.

Gold Ink Awards

Now in its 21st year, the Gold Ink Awards call attention to the print industry’s finest projects. 2008 was no exception, as North American Publishing Co. (NAPCO; parent company of both the Gold Ink Awards and Book Business) received more than 1,400 entries for this year’s competition. As always, a talented team of judges hailing from diverse backgrounds across the industry poured through the submissions, awarding Gold, Silver, Bronze and Pewter honors in 46 categories. In all, 488 entries were selected for awards. Nearly two-dozen judges sorted and sifted through the finest print pieces, submitted by publishers and printers alike, over the course of

The Top 30 Book Manufacturers

Speak to just about any book manufacturer these days about his or her business, and you’re likely to hear a laundry list of concerns: an economy teetering on the edge of a recession, paper’s rising costs and tighter supply, the need to respond to publishers’ and environmental groups’ “green” demands, and mounting pressure to improve turn times and to upgrade technology, among others. And yet, for an industry so seemingly wrought with challenges, a look at Book Business’ annual list of North America’s Top 30 Book Manufacturers (on pages 16-17) appears to tell a different story. Just seven of the 30 printers who appear

Wiley Merges Old and New

Having recently celebrated its 200th year, John Wiley & Sons Inc. is among the oldest independent publishers in the world. You don’t survive two centuries without an ability to change with the times. That, says Christine Dunn—the focus of this month’s Marketing Interview—is a core strength of Wiley’s. “Wiley hasn’t been around 200 years by not trying new things every now and then,” says Dunn, director of marketing for Wiley’s professional and trade division, home to such popular brands as “For Dummies,” “Frommers,” “CliffsNotes” and “Betty Crocker.” “… When you have the luxury of [working for] an organization that runs smoothly doing things it