book market
Book industry fights crises – upswing for audio
The book industry is confronted with many crises, but is optimistic about the future. photo
© Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa/Frank Rumpenhorstdpa
Ever new crises burden the book market. Nevertheless, the industry is self-confident. What about the young readership? And what was the most successful book of 2022?
Corona is over, new crises are here: Although inflation and reluctance to buy are shape the book market, booksellers and publishers are self-confident. “The book industry is also feeling the effects of the global crises, but is asserting itself with commitment,” said Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, head of the German Book Trade Association on Wednesday in Frankfurt. After all, books would offer orientation, reliable information and inspiring stories, especially in complex times.
What is the current situation? According to the information, the half-year balance sheet for 2023 is double-edged. “It is true that sales across all sales channels are 4.1 percent higher than in the first six months of 2022,” said the exchange association. But that is also due to the very weak first half of 2021 due to the corona, in which, for example, the Leipzig Book Fair was canceled again.
Sales are below those of 2019
And: According to the stock exchange association, fewer books are sold compared to the pre-pandemic period and there is still a significant gap in sales in local bookstores. Accordingly, the sales figures there were 5.2 percent below those of 2019. The pandemic may be over on the book market, but that does not mean that one can sit back and relax, stressed Schmidt-Friderichs.
On Wednesday, the stock exchange association primarily announced detailed figures for the previous year: In 2022, the industry generated total sales of 9.44 billion euros, which was 1.9 percent less than 2021. While the classic book trade suffered losses due to the closures in the Corona -Zeit was able to increase its sales to 3.95 billion euros (plus 5 percent), the internet book trade posted a decline to 2.28 billion euros (minus 12.6 percent) after the significant increase in the pandemic. However, it is also clear that online trade will continue to gain momentum in the long term.
“The past year was marked by procurement bottlenecks, immensely increasing production and energy costs and high inflation,” explained the general manager of the stock exchange association, Peter Kraus vom Cleff, who was unable to attend in person in Frankfurt. In addition, the pandemic has accelerated the desertification of inner cities. “The situation is recovering only slowly or hardly at all.”
The audio book is booming
The situation is particularly precarious for smaller publishers, which are recording both enormous losses and ongoing high costs. “It is therefore crucial that politicians now quickly implement the funding for publishers that they promised in the coalition agreement,” demanded Kraus vom Cleff.
But there were also figures that give cause for optimism: According to the data, the developments in audio books are particularly pleasing. Sales there increased by 35.2 percent compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019. And from 2021 to 2022, the numbers increased by 6.6 percent. “Audio is booming,” said the head of the department, Schmidt-Friderichs.
Among the books sold, fiction continues to be the most important area with a share of 34 percent (up 4.4 percent). As expected, the “Travel” segment recorded enormous growth (plus 16.5 percent), with a share of 4.7 percent. Incidentally, the best-selling hardcover novel of 2022 in Germany was “A Question of Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. Kurt Krömer’s “You Must Not Believe Everything You Think” takes first place among the non-fiction bestseller titles with hardcover.
The culture pass is intended to support the industry
And what about the young readers? There, too, two sides were shown: On the one hand, there was a deterioration in reading ability, it said. On the other hand, many young people are very keen to buy and interested in literature. She is optimistic that part of the younger generation is dealing intensively with book topics on social media such as Tiktok, said Schmidt-Friderichs. “The industry is actively addressing this target group by creating a connection between digital formats and local trade.”
And last but not least, the culture pass would also support the industry. With the newly introduced pass, everyone who turns 18 this year will receive 200 euros for the use of local cultural offers. This can be used to buy cinema, concert, museum or theater tickets, but also books, sound carriers or musical instruments.