While erotica eBook sales contributed greatly to the swelling electronic book revolution. It heralds new pathways to achieving extreme profitability amongst publishing heavies like Barnes & Nobel, and Amazon. Heads up, PwC sees nothing but increased revenue in eBook sales for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the list of the top ten publishers worldwide has not changed. The same big players in traditional and eBook publications are still the main hawkers in the sport of making lots of money in print media. Add the fact that trending global demographics spell new sources of disposable incomes. Small e-commerce romance eBooks are becoming streams of important revenue gains. How important?
In the first quarter of 2012 adult eBooks showed an increase in sales of 28.16%. That translated into a quarterly income of $282.3M. The numbers of e-Readers purchasing erotica and romance genres are swelling and the participating demographics are changing.
E-Readers are taking the embarrassing out of sensual reading. Dare we say that Anne Rice has taken ownership of her Beauty’s Release? The reformatted cover and updated version now available for eBook readers is enjoying a rare comeback. In an effort to stem the growing tide of unsanctioned erotica Amazon, PayPal, Pinterest and others, are attempting to find their “censorship” voices. Can we say 50 Shades of no?
In this new medium for entertainment, consumer driven demand will dictate how this genre will be made available. Globetrotters, vacationers and daily commuters will be purchasing the latest and greatest in electronic readers. It makes that long airtime shorter when you can entertain yourself with a 100 Shades of Grey.
Smaller publishers in e-commerce are growing. They are still reliant on the services of the deep-pocketed Amazon to help in selling, or PayPal to act as transaction merchant. Nevertheless “censoring” what constitutes safe erotica, is like corralling wild horses after the fact. Technology is changing global senses of self-awareness. Availability and expansion of varied genres will challenge traditional value systems. Therefore how and what we read will alter socializations. This all translates in enhanced e-commerce profits for those brave enough to test new waters.
Donning the mantle of director in chief of how smut will be smutted in a morphing global society will be a challenge. New markets will emerge and new providers will be there to fill neglected niches. They will become the centers for erotica and romance memes, which is rapidly becoming billion dollar businesses. The quest for sensational titillation will not be denied. As taste for casual reading evolves, the discoverer of the next E L James will win the day and future profits. Giant global e-commerce business has its’ eyes on the rear view mirror. Jeff Bezos is already priming the consumer for new upgrades to Kindle.
