From Don Linn’s post on the IPG-Amazon debacle.
Look, I fully agree that publishers and consumers need to step up and say no to these sorts of practices. But I believe that the ‘just change the game’ argument falls a bit flat, considering the obvious discrepancy between a multi-billion dollar company and, say, scrappy and smart ECW Press (a member of IPG).
I’m probably showing my roots as a daughter of a UAW member and purchaser of Rage Against the Machine tickets (Wu-Tang Clan opened), but the battle here puts me in mind of a highly recommended documentary American Standoff, which describes how labor laws have changed so dramatically in this country that collective organizing by workers has become personally risky to their own livelihoods.
Individual organizing and publisher organizing are two very different things, I know, but to me the core principle seems to be more or less the same: small publishers shouldn’t have to take risks with their income and with the income of their authors to lodge a protest. And if we’re at the point where this is the case, can it be argued at all that this is a fair fight?
(NB: Regardless of my nitpicking, Don and I are definitely on the same side here, and I recommend his post for all kinds of smart, insider-y Amazon distribution thoughts.)
I'm Ami Greko. I write in way too many places on the internet. Welcome to my home base. 