Report compiled by Tom Chalmers, Managing Director at IPR Licensethe global, digital marketplace for authors, agents and publishers to list and license book rights; launched in 2012
The two markets in the spotlight this month, whilst not exactly polar opposites, illustrate some of the ups and downs being experienced within the international publishing scene.
Focusing on the UK market for a moment, it's been reported that the rise of ebooks and pressure from important retailers to discount titles are forcing increasing numbers of UK publishers out of business. According to research by accounting firm Wilkins Kennedy, ninety-eight publishers of books, periodicals and other materials became insolvent in the year to the end of August 2013. It's clear that UK publishers are in the midst of some difficult times. In contrast Sweden is enjoying a continued boom in foreign sales for fiction with Scandinavia in general continuing to dominate the international rights scene, especially in relation to crime-based fiction. That's not to say that all UK titles are performing badly on the world stage, far from it. But the research certainly does underline the need for UK publishers and beyond to maximize the international rights market as it continues to provide an important revenue stream for publishing houses of all nationalities, shapes and sizes.
