In a country of 149 million internet users the prospects for digital publishing, with all its consumer convenience, affordability and choice, could not be more exciting. But…
The Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL), the National Union of Book Publishers (SNEL) and the stats counter Nielsen have confirmed what Brazilian publishers have been anecdotally reporting, that the ebook and audiobook market grew substantially in 2020.
No real surprises there, given the Pandemic, but perhaps more of interest is (again anecdotal for now) reports that the new market seems to be holding steady.
Percentages of course tell only part of the story, so let’s introduce some cold reality into the discussion by noting we are talking revenue rising from R$ 103 million in 2019 to R$ 147 million in 2020. That’s US $20 million to US $29 million, or about 6% (up from 4% in 2019) of the total Brazil book market as measured by CBL-SNEL.
Ebooks accounted for 92% of the recorded digital revenue, audiobooks just 8%.
This at once encouraging and sobering. Mostly sobering.
In a country of 149 million internet users the prospects for digital publishing, with all its consumer convenience, affordability and choice, could not be more exciting. But until publishers shake off their analogue thinking and start to seriously offer consumers the aforesaid convenience, affordability and choice, Brazilian publishing will remain mired in print’s problematic existence.
Statistics via PublishNews.
