Authors’ Earnings Under Scrutiny
Recently, a heated debate has emerged in Iceland concerning the compensation of authors for audiobook streaming. During the summer, The Writers’ Union of Iceland conducted two surveys among its members. The first survey focused on authors’ general earnings, while the second explored their perspectives on the audiobook streaming service, Storytel.
Survey Results Reveal Low Earnings
According to the survey, The Writers’ Union of Iceland is urging its members to resist having more of their works added to Storytel until fair compensation terms are negotiated. This was communicated in a letter sent to members by the union’s board today. The findings revealed that 74% of authors receive only 0-5% of their income from Storytel. When asked about the percentage of their total income, this figure rose to 84% of authors receiving 0-5%. Only 3% of authors earned 20% or more of their total income from Storytel. An overwhelming 88% of authors expressed dissatisfaction with their share of earnings.
Authors Seek Action
The survey showed that most authors are inclined to take action. The Writers’ Union of Iceland is encouraging its members to be vigilant about their rights in negotiations with Storytel and to refrain from allowing more of their works onto the platform for the time being. They are also examining what rights members have under agreements with publishers to remove their works from the streaming service.
Support for Audiobook Publishing
Despite the dissatisfaction with current compensation models, an overwhelming 96% of responding authors support the release of books in audiobook format. This indicates that authors are not opposed to audiobooks per se but are dissatisfied with Storytel’s business model. “Storytel has operated with little regard for authors and publishers since it entered the Icelandic market in 2018, resulting in laughably low royalties,” the letter states.
Growing Popularity of Audiobooks
The popularity of audiobooks continues to rise, yet payments to authors have significantly decreased. The letter emphasizes that without fair royalties, Iceland’s literary culture, which prides itself on being a nation of literature, cannot thrive.
Analysis and Broader Context
The issue of fair compensation for authors in the digital age is not unique to Iceland. Globally, the shift towards digital media has reshaped the publishing industry, often to the detriment of authors’ earnings. Platforms like Storytel, Audible, and others have been criticized for their royalty structures, which many argue undervalue the work of authors compared to traditional publishing models.
The rise of subscription-based services has further complicated the landscape. While these platforms offer consumers unlimited access to a vast library of content for a fixed fee, the revenue sharing models have often been disadvantageous for content creators. This tension is exacerbated in smaller markets like Iceland, where the pool of potential subscribers is limited, making it even more challenging for authors to earn a sustainable income from these services.
The call from The Writers’ Union of Iceland highlights a critical need for renegotiation and reevaluation of existing contracts to ensure that authors receive a fair share of the profits generated from their work. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for authors, publishers, and platforms to collaborate on developing fair compensation models that reflect the value of creative content.
In conclusion, the current situation underscores the need for systemic change in how digital media platforms compensate content creators. As Iceland navigates this issue, it may serve as a case study for other nations grappling with similar challenges. Ensuring that authors are fairly compensated is essential not only for sustaining the livelihoods of individual creators but also for preserving the rich literary culture that is so deeply valued in Iceland and beyond.