Big day arrives, publishers’ hopes likely dashed

Over the weekend Jeff Trachtenberg wrote about the alleged lament by those in the industry about the lack of some big summer blockbuster hit. Aside from the fact that the mere idea is kind of ludicrous in this day and age, there’s one bit of irony that seems to have escaped notice – or was so subtle that Trachtenberg’s allusion to it is nothing short of genius.

Why? Because of the “big titles” released today that’s touted for potential stardom is Chris Anderson‘s THE LONG TAIL, which Hyperion is so excited about it has gone back to press three times prior to publication and now has 150,000 copies in print – damn high for a business title, but of course, take any and all numbers with more salt pillars than Lot’s wife.

The gist? That the combined effect of meager-selling products trumps big blockbusters. The irony? If Anderson’s book does as well as Hyperion hopes, it’ll be the exact kind of blockbuster Anderson says is dead. Neat trick, huh?

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