Nord Compo is partnering with Publishers Weekly and Book Buddy Media to produce The Future of Publishing, a podcast series featuring interviews with leaders from across the international publishing industry. Conceived by Nord Compo's Arnaud Lecompte, director of digital and international business development, and hosted by Larry Bennett, executive director, North America, these interviews will look ahead to developments likely to shape publishing over the next three to 10 years.
"Our goal is to have a wide diversity of opinions and perspectives from industry leaders across multiple disciplines," Bennett says. "Accordingly, our initial interviewees include leaders in e-book publishing and distribution, the top distributors to mass and traditional markets, the preeminent digital print provider, and a leading children's book publisher. In future podcasts, we intend to include thought leaders from complementary disciplines that influence book publishing, including content creation and technology."
Listen to the First Episode Now:
''The Future of Publishing will explore the publishing industry broadly, extrapolating from today's trends and imagining what will be important to the book business throughout the world in the coming years. The goal of the series is to enable industry leaders to share insights, experiences, and useful information and thereby stimulate conversation among industry professionals.
Nord Compo is a leading supplier of prepress composition, digital, and editorial services for publishers. With 50 years of experience and more than 500 full-time employees, Nord Compo services many industry leaders, including Elsevier, Hachette, Ingram, Pottermore, Princeton University Press, Sourcebooks, and Springer. Seattle-based Book Buddy Media, which handles podcast production for The Future of Publishing, is a major supplier of high-quality audiobooks specializing in, but not limited to, the K–12 market.
"Our once-staid industry has been going through major changes since the 1950s, when a majority of trade books were sold through department stores like Macy's," Bennett says. "The pace of change seems to be accelerating in this century, with the advent of the internet, e-books, digital printing, and industry consolidation. We thought it would be interesting to get industry leaders' perspectives on where we are heading."
Listen to the debut podcast, featuring a conversation with Ingram Content Group chairman John Ingram, launches today.
Nord Compo's The Future of Publishing Podcast
The first podcast launches on June 11, with episodes to follow according to the schedule below. Here's a preview of each conversation:
June 11: John Ingram, chairman of Ingram Content Group, Ingram Digital, and Lightning Source
Ingram's position as one of the most vertically integrated players in the industry—occupying leadership roles in digital printing, distribution, and wholesaling—gives him a broad perspective on the overall industry. Ingram shares his views on the trajectory of the self-publishing phenomenon, the impact of new technology on POD, and where indie stores are headed.
July 23: Marcus Leaver, former CEO, Quarto Group
Leaver reminds us time and again of the old publishing adage "content is king." While he appreciates the technological revolution the book industry is going through, for children's books, nothing beats a good story.
September 17: Steve Potash, president and CEO, OverDrive
As the undisputed leader in supplying e-books to libraries, Potash gives his views on the changing role of public libraries in the U.S. and overseas, and on the expanding role of e-books in the K–12 market. He shares his "secrets" on how OverDrive, a 30-year-old industry leader, still feels like an exciting start-up to employees.
October 22: Dennis Abboud, president, CEO, chairman, Readerlink
Abboud brings a unique perspective as CEO of, by far, the largest supplier of books to nonbookstore booksellers. His outlook and perspective give listeners insight into the future of and potential growth in nontraditional outlets and print books, which of course dominate Readerlink's business.
November 12: Mark Coker, CEO/founder of Smashwords
Coker talks about the trajectory of indie publishing and discusses trends in the e-book market of interest to authors and publishers alike.
