Industry News
SELECTED ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE MEDIA COMMUNITY
Uncovering the Evolution of Romance Novel Covers
An analysis of romance novel cover design shows that the industry has moved from bodice-ripper illustration to a fun and light-hearted style that's currently popular. One result is that readers who might be embarrassed about being fans of romance novels can carry the books without their content being obvious. The trend of using more abstract designs and bright colors is also popular in the covers of other types of fiction. The romance cover review in "The Pudding" substack analyzed more than 1,400 covers featured in Publishers Weekly between 2011 and 2023. It also found that during that time period there was a significant decline in "raunchy" romance novel covers, and a large increase in racially diverse characters depicted in cover designs.
Read more of The Pudding story here.
#media #strategy #consulting
Potential Subscribers to Digital Publications Want an Easier Way Out
A study of 1,000 U.S. consumers found that almost two-thirds of respondents would be more likely to subscribe to digital publications if cancelling was an easier process. An even higher number -- 77 percent -- of participants would support a mandatory one-click cancellation law like the one currently proposed by the Federal Trade Commission. Other findings in the analysis by Toolkits and National Research Group include:
- Slightly more than half of those surveyed reported having some level of difficulty the last time they wanted to cancel a digital subscription.
- Easier cancellation procedures might help publishers increase conversions and revenue.
- Consumers increasingly value transparency, and complicated subscription cancellation policies may erode publishers' editorial credibility.
- Easier cancellation might give publishers more insight into who values their products and why, allowing better targeting of content to subscriber interests.
Read more about the Toolkits and National Research Group study here.
#media #strategy #consulting
