50% royalties for ebooks vs 15% for Paperback

jckatz · 01-02-2008, 12:29 PM

I've read in the past that artist are getting screwed by the music labels over the sale of their music online. In many cases the money goes to the label and not to the artist... NICE... So I've been worried that the book world might be the same, so it made me happy to see that at Mundania Press, their "default contract" gives authors 50% of revenue for ebooks.

In compensation for this grant of rights, the Publisher will pay the Author royalties based upon net sales (actual sales less returns) as reported by the Publisher's distributors as follows:

* For trade paperback copies sold less returns: fifteen percent (15%) of the net amount received for each sale.
* For electronic edition copies sold less returns: fifty percent (50%) of the net amount received for each sale.

http://www.mundania.com/contract.html

HarryT · 01-02-2008, 12:32 PM

Same with MobiPocket - it you publish your book with them electronically, they take 45%, you get 55%.

tribble · 01-02-2008, 12:55 PM

Well. Amazon gives you 30% of your suggested retailprice.

And 15% for paperbooks is a very high number its usually mor like 5-8%

slayda · 01-02-2008, 01:11 PM

This is very interesting. If a paperback book costs $8.00 then at 15% the author gets $1.20. Therefore for the same return to the author on ebooks at 50%, they should only cost $2.40.

We're getting robbed on our ebook purchases!

DaleDe · 01-02-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

This is very interesting. If a paperback book costs $8.00 then at 15% the author gets $1.20. Therefore for the same return to the author on ebooks at 50%, they should only cost $2.40.

We're getting robbed on our ebook purchases!

Don't buy them. You have a choice.

Dale

HarryT · 01-02-2008, 01:24 PM

And note that the figures just quoted for Mobi and Amazon are for "self-publishing". If an author sells an eBook via a publisher, their royalty payments will be a lot lower. All that's happening basically is that the eBook store is taking the same (approximate) 50% of the cover price that the traditional bookstore takes.

01-02-2008, 12:29 PM	#1
jckatz Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 216 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Device: SONY PSR-500	50% royalties for ebooks vs 15% for Paperback I've read in the past that artist are getting screwed by the music labels over the sale of their music online. In many cases the money goes to the label and not to the artist... NICE... So I've been worried that the book world might be the same, so it made me happy to see that at Mundania Press, their "default contract" gives authors 50% of revenue for ebooks. In compensation for this grant of rights, the Publisher will pay the Author royalties based upon net sales (actual sales less returns) as reported by the Publisher's distributors as follows: * For trade paperback copies sold less returns: fifteen percent (15%) of the net amount received for each sale. * For electronic edition copies sold less returns: fifty percent (50%) of the net amount received for each sale. http://www.mundania.com/contract.html Last edited by jckatz; 01-02-2008 at 12:29 PM. Reason: adding URL of information

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01-02-2008, 12:32 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Same with MobiPocket - it you publish your book with them electronically, they take 45%, you get 55%.

01-02-2008, 12:55 PM	#3
tribble iLiad Maniac Posts: 1,382 Karma: 2369 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Device: Bookeen Opus (i love that thing) and iPad (what an irony)	Well. Amazon gives you 30% of your suggested retailprice. And 15% for paperbooks is a very high number its usually mor like 5-8%

01-02-2008, 01:11 PM	#4
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	This is very interesting. If a paperback book costs $8.00 then at 15% the author gets $1.20. Therefore for the same return to the author on ebooks at 50%, they should only cost $2.40. We're getting robbed on our ebook purchases!

01-02-2008, 01:24 PM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	And note that the figures just quoted for Mobi and Amazon are for "self-publishing". If an author sells an eBook via a publisher, their royalty payments will be a lot lower. All that's happening basically is that the eBook store is taking the same (approximate) 50% of the cover price that the traditional bookstore takes.

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