Getting Down to Business
By Densie Webb | May 4, 2024 |
There are some seismic shifts in this month’s roundup. A potentially disturbing development—Meta discussed buying Simon & Schuster to train AI. Yep, you read that right. Meta would then own books published by S&S. AI is nosing in on screenwriters as well, and they’re fighting back. TikTok is considering AI generated ad avatars. Amazon uses secret intel gathering on its competitors. Spotify as a source for audiobooks is exploding. FTC proposal says ‘no way’ to contract non-compete clauses, which harm authors. In a surprising change, Ingram notified small publishers that the company would no longer service their book distribution needs, leaving many scrambling. The case of Penguin vs DOJ offers insight into the harsh reality of book promotion and sales.
AI
If a computer can write like a person, what does it say about creativity?
Will copyright law inhibit or enable AI?
What would it mean if Meta were to buy a major publisher to train their AI?
Not everyone is so pessimistic about AI
Screenwriters are concerned about AI
TikTok Considers AI Ad Avatars
Amazon
Amazon again in hot water with the FTC
Amazon’s secret operation to gather intel on rivals
Audiobooks
A quarter of Spotify premium users are listening to audiobooks
New CEO at Scribd audiobook business
Book Bans
Censorship is a hammer looking for a nail
Maryland passes legislation to curtail book bans
Book Sales
Association of American Publishers reports sales up by 0.4%
Eye-opening take aways from THE trial when Penguin Random House attempted to buy Simon & Schuster
Bookstores
The next generation of booksellers changing the bookselling world
Ebook vs Paper
Which is better for the environment?
Publishing Updates
EU excludes book industry from late payment regulations
Politics trigger PEN America cancellation of World Voices Festival
FTC proposes banning broad non-compete clauses, which hurt authors
Ingram suddenly stops distribution for small presses
Entangled Press gets a huge boost from fantasy series
France allows book ads on television
Does the idea of Meta buying a major publisher to train AI with your books make your skin crawl? Does it feel inevitable? How could authors fight back? Should authors fight back?
Densie Webb has spent a long career as a freelance nonfiction writer and editor, specializing in health and nutrition and has published several books and tons of articles on the topic over the years. She is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Red Adept Publishing released her debut women’s fiction novel titled, “When Robins Appear” in 2020. It is available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback formats. Her second novel, best categorized as romantic/domestic suspense, “Breathing in Reverse” was published in 2023, also with Red Adept Publishing. She is currently working (but not fast enough) on novel #3. She grew up in Louisiana, spent 13 years in New York, and settled in Austin, TX, where it’s summer nine months of the year. She’s an avid walker (not of the dead variety, though she loves anything to do with zombies, vampires, or post-apocalyptic worlds), drinks way too much coffee, and has a small “devil dog” that keep her on her toes. And she is thrilled to be a part of the Writer Unboxed family!
Densie: thank you for providing WU readers with an ongoing summary of useful links related to what we do. It’s not glamorous work, just very helpful and valuable. I know I speak for many in expressing my appreciation.
Thank you! Your appreciation is appreciated. :-)
Jeepers! So much going on. Thank you, Densie.