If you’ve been under a rock lately, here’s a news flash: the publishing world is going through another revolution. Digital media is transforming the world again. Self-publishing is not a joke anymore, and its likely to change everything in the content world in the coming years. Everyone is trying to get into the original content business because everyone knows that peddling content doesn’t cut it anymore.
These are epic changes that changing the world. They are changing fundamental ways people interact with the web and what they expect from digital experiences. So everything from the way we design, build, deliver, and market products will need to adapt to this new reality. It is starting in the consumer space, but it is seeping into the B2B, enterprise, government, and educational realms as well. Nothing is sacred. So it’s good to see the patterns.
The world of book publishing is being transformed
It is cheaper and easier then ever before to publish a book. Distribution is much easier then it ever was before. Print-on-demand is coming into its own. eBooks and eReaders like the Nook and Kindle, along with the world of tablets and big screened phones is making digital books a real threat. People are buying more ebooks then soft cover on Amazon. Recommendations tools and suggestions are bringing more books to more peoples’ attention.
The world of movie-making and video is evolving
Independent films are pretty much the way anything good gets made today. Big studios only care about comic book blockbusters. Anyone can grab a pretty high quality prosumer camera, a nice mic, and a Mac and make a pretty good starting movie. People share their movies in HD quality on Vimeo and through evolving digital channels like Amazon video on demand.
The world of music is evolving again
Music has evolved into people buying individual songs. Music fans around the world share new songs via Spotify, Soundcloud, and Pandora. Discovery is enhanced through facebook, twitter, and a myriad of other tools and apps people use across all platforms. And music is getting used more often on TV shows, in movies, in commercials, and in online videos. People are exposed to more content more often then ever.
New sites are evolving to help
In the world of books and print, you can publish via LightningSource, CreateSpace, iTunes, and more with nearly instant distribution.
In the world of video, you can sell DVDs on CreateSpace, or digital downloads on PayLoadz or Quixly or Gumroad.
In the world of music, there’s a myriad of choices. Again, you can use CreateSpace or you can use CD Baby to print your own CDs. You can upload it to iTunes, Soundcloud, or sell it on Spotify and thru Pandora. But also get your songs on a online scoring site and get your stuff heard and reviewed and shared. If you’re up for the criticism, it’s never been easier to get your stuff out there for the marketplace to see.
Anyway, just some suggestions for you to research to keep up to date on what’s going on in the media publishing world. I don’t know how this is going to change the world, but it’s pretty exciting.
