How Do Literary Agents Fit Into The New Book Publishing Ecosystem? - Forbes

For some agents, those who deal with only the biggest authors, the new publishing paradigm might not change much for now. Many of these authors still still want and need agents to help them manage their careers, negotiate big, complicated contracts, sell foreign rights, movie rights, audio rights, app rights, other licensing deals and such. Plus, many of these relationships have developed and grown over time. You wouldn't abandon a friend just so you don't have to share as much of your seven-figure advance, would you? But many other agents are finding themselves in a position of having to legitimize what they do every day to their clients and potential clients.