Re-Mixing the Publishing Model

As publishers tighten their belts and get creative, two companies announced digital properties that could flourish in a thriftier book market.

Today Firebrand Technologies and Rosetta Solutions took control of NetGalley, a fledgling online service that could save publishers a bundle on promotional budgets. From the release: “NetGalley delivers digital galleys and promotional materials to professional readers and helps promote new and upcoming titles. Using NetGalley, publishers can build communities, invite contacts to view galleys and promotional materials, and track who has viewed their titles.”

The NY Observer takes a look at Penguin 2.0, an updated website that brings mobile applications, social networking and iTunes-like functionality to the publisher’s website. From the article: “Taking sites like AnthologyBuilder.com and iTunes as inspiration, Mr. Gomez said, Penguin hopes the ‘Custom’ program will tap into people’s desire ‘to remix a little and to shuffle their playlists.’ He cautioned, however, that he ‘would never want to break apart an entire book’ and thereby render the full-length volume obsolete the way iTunes has done to the 74-minute LP.”

Could these efforts help publishers during the tough times? Where are the least cost-effective corners of the book business?

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