When discussing the \u00a0health\u00a0 of the \u00a0Spanish publishing industry\u00a0, people often cite publication figures to justify the positive state of the book business. However, a quick analysis might suggest the opposite: the \u00a0excessive number of releases\u00a0 could be suffocating bookstores, leading to a series of undesirable side effects.<\/p>\n
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How Much is Published?<\/strong> The latest data from the Ministry of Culture<\/a> reveals that around \u00a092,000 books\u00a0 are published annually in Spain, which means over \u00a0250 books per day\u00a0. That’s six books every minute. And this figure only accounts for releases with a legal deposit; it excludes self-published works (last year, authors averaged about three new titles each day) on platforms like Amazon. These additional titles also add thousands of potentials to the towering pile of unread books for beleaguered readers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Drive for Success.<\/strong> Why so many new releases? A variety of factors create a complex ecosystem that explains this tidal wave of production. Firstly, it\u2019s an editorial strategy to counteract declining sales per book<\/a>. Except for \u00a0bestsellers\u00a0 and occasional hits, books are selling less, print runs are smaller, and publishers multiply their offerings to mitigate the effects. This constant search for the next big success is a response to decreased individual sales. The fact that overall revenue is increasing<\/a> despite falling print runs exemplifies that this strategy is working. As Oihan Iturbide, a former editor, mentioned in *El Salto*, “the publishing industry resembles a \u00a0fast food chain\u00a0 more than a restaurant with a distinguished homemade menu: the key is volume, not quality.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Rise of New Publishers.<\/strong> Additionally, the proliferation of new publishing houses is noteworthy: by 2024<\/a>, Spain had about \u00a03,160 active publishers\u00a0. This figure hasn\u2019t changed drastically from previous years (when compared to \u00a02016\u00a0 and significantly lower than the \u00a03,564\u00a0 in \u00a02009\u00a0 during a vastly different economic context). Among them, only about \u00a02,000 publishers\u00a0 release more than \u00a010 titles annually\u00a0, and a mere \u00a013 exceed 700 titles per year\u00a0. While this indicates diversity and vitality within the sector, it also highlights the stark contrast between the large Spanish publishing groups (like \u00a0Planeta\u00a0 and \u00a0Penguin Random House\u00a0, along with \u00a0Santillana\u00a0 in education) and smaller publishers. According to the \u00a0Federation of Editors\u00a0, three out of every four books stem from these major groups.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Distribution Conundrum.<\/strong> The atmosphere of overproduction (Rub\u00e9n Hern\u00e1ndez from \u00a0Errata Naturae\u00a0 pointed out that from those \u00a092,000 annual books\u00a0, “a third return to the shadows of warehouses and likely get guillotined”) is muddied by Spain’s complex distribution system. Hern\u00e1ndez explains: “the editor publishes at a price (…) of \u00a0\u20ac10\u00a0 and gets it to the distributor. The bookstore buys it at a discount of about \u00a035%\u00a0, from which it profits, and pays \u00a0\u20ac6.5\u00a0 to the distributor, which keeps \u00a0\u20ac2\u00a0 and pays the editor the remaining \u00a0\u20ac4.5\u00a0. What happens with the one in every three books that doesn\u2019t sell? The bookstore returns it and claims back its \u00a0\u20ac6.5\u00a0, which the distributor doesn\u2019t repay but instead offers a credit.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The snowball keeps growing: “Subsequently, the distributor claims back the editor\u2019s \u00a0\u20ac4.5\u00a0, which the editor cannot pay, thus incurring a debt. To reimburse it, the editor has no option but to invest the \u00a0\u20ac4.5\u00a0 they earned (but owe) in another book, which, upon reaching the bookstore, activates its credit, while the distributor collects an additional \u00a0\u20ac2\u00a0. Thus, one out of every three times a book is published, both the editor and the bookstore receive debts or credits. The distributor, however, always retains real capital.” This toxic cycle resembles a bubble that continues to swell unchecked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Are All the News Bad?<\/strong> Not entirely: the evidence of intensified publication offers a chance for publishers to recognize that the situation could become unsustainable<\/a>. Possible solutions to the deficient book return system<\/a> can be explored. Excessive supply isn\u2019t inherently negative unless it leads to overwhelming production and clogs the system until it bursts. It\u2019s evident that six books per minute is excessive, but who will be the first to start the cuts?<\/p>\n Header image by Pierre Bamin<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n In conclusion, the current state of the publishing industry in Spain highlights numerous challenges that must be confronted. While the sheer volume of new titles offers diversity and opportunities for emerging authors, it also raises questions about sustainability and quality in an ever-expanding market.<\/p>\n