Self-Publishing News: Musk Loose Cannoning and Bluesky Have their Eyes Fixed on X
It has been another difficult week for X. And one of the platforms competing to be the place our industry ends up is Bluesky.
Self-Publishing News: Judges Don’t Read Prize Entries Shock and New Indie Bestseller Chart
Judges don't read all entries in the "pre-long list" for the Booker Prize. Jane Friedman’s Hot Sheet and Bookstat launch indie bestseller chart.
Self-Publishing News: Webcomics – Publishers Jump on the Indie Bandwagon
Penguin Random House has jumped on the bandwagon with its Inklore imprint, which will specialise in seeking out the most successful webcomic titles in this immensely popular format and bringing them to a print audience.
Self-Publishing News: A Week on From OpenAI’s Meltdown and Courts Push Back on AI Copyright Case
Today I reflect on a challenging AI week. What case law is rapidly showing is that in the long term what we need is less to bring tech firms to heel and more to have new laws.
Self-Publishing News: Audiobooks Continue to Increase Market Share
Audiobooks have been growing in popularity for a decade, without much sign of that growth slowing. And, even if Generation Z loves paper books, they are also used to audio-first as the way to get information. But, while the market for audiobooks has been growing, their share of the overall book market has remained low in absolute terms - an inevitable consequence of starting from a very low base.
Self-Publishing News: 2024 Selfies Awards Open With New General Non-Fiction Category
It is fantastic to end the week with what is, essentially, two great stories in one. First of all, I am delighted to welcome Bookbrunch as a partner member to ALLi. Bookbrunch offers frequent snack-sized news items relating to the book world. Perfect for reading alongside (not, of course, instead of) this column!
Self-Publishing News: AI Cracks Deepen as ChatGPT Fires (then rehires) Boss
This week, OpenAI briefly went into what has felt like meltdown as it sacked its longstanding CEO, Sam Altman. There is no official word as to the reason for the firing, with cryptic messages about candid communication. But there are several theories around the real reason for the breakdown.
Self-Publishing News: Baillie Gifford Study Shows Commercial Value of Literary Prizes
Baillie Gifford study boasts a spectacular headline figure for winners when looking at the four weeks prior to and subsequent to winning from 2016. Catch up on all the details with the Self-Publishing News update.
Self-Publishing News: Futurebook Conference 2023 – Audio and AI to Dominate
As Audio and AI dominate the Futurebook Conference 2023 Programme, What Kind of Future is Being Imagined? In just over a week, it will be time for the annual Futurebook conference - what has become one of the most important dates in the calendar for understanding the nature of our industry’s concerns, the climate in which we operate, and the overall appetite for innovation across our landscape.
Self-Publishing News: Change to the Way TikTok Pays Creators
On today's ALLi Self-Publishing News we ask, how do we get paid for the items we create when the people who enjoy them don’t purchase things item by item? And specifically, how does TikTok pay creators?
Self-Publishing News: Spotify Premium Rolls Out Audiobooks in the US – including indies through Findaway Voices
As of November 8th, Spotify Premium subscribers in the US will be able to access the platform’s 200,000 strong audiobook catalogue. Indie authors can distribute to Spotify via Findaway Voices.
Self-Publishing News: Lawsuits – Amazon Takes on Scammers and Mixed Success in Artist Lawsuit Against Stability AI
Amazon is taking on a group of people and companies exploiting Amazon’s name. And artists against Stability AI lawsuit has hit the rocks. After reporting several times about Amazon’s experience on the receiving end of legal proceedings, it’s good to be able to report on an action that Amazon is bringing.