(Washington, DC, 11 April 2013) For calendar year 2012, US Trade publishers’ net revenue grew by 6.2 percent as compared to calendar year 2011, according to the Association of American Publishers “StatShot” monthly report for December 2012, released today.
The report also showed increases year over year for net revenue in the Trade categories of Adult Fiction/Non-Fiction and Children’s/Young Adults.
In formats, Adult Fiction/Non-Fiction saw growth in eBooks, downloaded audiobooks and paperbacks while Children’s/YA eBooks, hardcover and board books saw increases. The eBook format in the Religious Presses category also grew as compared to 2011.
The StatShot December data was provided by 1,193 publishers. The Trade sector of publishing includes Fiction and Non-Fiction for Adults, Children’s and Young Adult books and Religious Presses.
This report also marks the 10th anniversary of AAP’s compilation of Trade publishers’ annual net revenue from eBook sales. Since the extent and categories of publishers reporting data, the definitions of formats and the methodology of the surveys themselves have evolved and sharpened so dramatically over the past decade, the annual results can’t be directly compared. But it’s possible to view them on an anecdotal level. According to the AAP figures:
In 2002, those Trade publishers reporting eBooks to AAP noted the format represented 0.05 percent of their total share of net revenue
By 2006, eBooks were reported as 0.50 percent of participating Trade publishers’ net revenue; it reached 1.18 percent by 2008
The following year, the digital transition was underway and percentages reported grew rapidly: from 3.17 percent (2009) to 16.98 percent (2011) and now, for 2012, 22.55 percent.
The complete monthly StatShots surveys are provided to AAP member organizations and paid subscribers; only highlights are included here. For details on subscription purchases or further media inquiries, contact [email protected]. The AAP website is here: http://www.publishers.org
