Jazz Odyssey

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"Unless you live in Boys Town, Neb., or work in education or family services, you likely haven’t heard of Boys Town Press, the publishing arm of the youth care organization founded by Father Flanagan and made famous by the Spencer Tracy movie.

Boys Town Press, an 11-year-old company that publishes parenting and educational materials, generated sales of $1.7 million last year, a fraction of what Random House, Inc., Scholastic, Inc., and other billion-dollar companies bring in.

Boys Town may appear an industry exception, but a new study says it’s more the rule. In a report issued Wednesday, the Book Industry Study Group says there are thousands of such publishers, earning between $1 million and $50 million on their own, but adding up to an estimated $11 billion market."

The article on this study goes on to make the point that the Internet has made for a more level playing field, with niche books available alongside major bestsellers in the same online storefronts such as Amazon.com.

"It used to be New York publishers were gatekeepers of what got into print. Technology has democratized book publishing."

This study should be an interesting read for indie labels and DIY artists…read on…