Mike, clearly you do not have any real experience with publishing on the Kindle. Amazon does not in anyway force publishers to set specific prices. Amazon works out the $9.99 deal on bestsellers, and in some cases underwrites the price.
I don't think there is anyone that can make a valid argument that the iPod is a bad thing. It changed the music industry into a more consumer friendly one. The music industry has been adapting to that change, and there are a HUGE amount of artists that have greatly benefited from it.
The same thing WILL happen to the print media industry. Consumers always want things to be easier, and as a Kindle owner for about 6 months I can assure you the entire process is far easier, and just like with the music industry, is opening up the market to a lot of independent publishers/authors.
I understand your fear with the idea that the person who actually creates the intellectual property will no longer need a publisher outside of possible advertising. But in all things, getting rid of the profiteering middle men is always a good thing.
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Mike, clearly you do not have any real experience with publishing on the Kindle. Amazon does not in anyway force publishers to set specific prices. Amazon works out the $9.99 deal on bestsellers, and in some cases underwrites the price.
I don't think there is anyone that can make a valid argument that the iPod is a bad thing. It changed the music industry into a more consumer friendly one. The music industry has been adapting to that change, and there are a HUGE amount of artists that have greatly benefited from it.
The same thing WILL happen to the print media industry. Consumers always want things to be easier, and as a Kindle owner for about 6 months I can assure you the entire process is far easier, and just like with the music industry, is opening up the market to a lot of independent publishers/authors.
I understand your fear with the idea that the person who actually creates the intellectual property will no longer need a publisher outside of possible advertising. But in all things, getting rid of the profiteering middle men is always a good thing.
I for one like what iTunes did to the music industry...
Why? because It gives me the power to pay $0.99 for the one song that I like and not be forced to shell out $20 for the other shite songs...
And most of my favorite music is from the 80's, so there is no way I could ever hunt down all those songs...