What do authors earn when they sell books? What share do other actors in the book chain receive, and is it fair? Rarely have these questions raised so much controversy in the sector. Particularly since the publication of a study, on 1er February, the results of which sparked a barrage of criticism.
Commissioned by the National Publishing Union (SNE) from the KPMG firm regarding “sharing of value between authors and publishers”, it draws an observation that is paradoxical to say the least: authors earn more than publishers. The SNE in fact states that the royalties received by authors reach 24.8% of publishers’ turnover, and that they themselves only keep 17.8% to cover their structural costs and contribute to their profit. exploitation. Which basically amounts to saying that authors earn nearly 12.5% of the tax-free price of the books sold. An enviable figure, but very rarely reached or exceeded in practice, except by those who publish bestsellers.
In a concerted manner, all the representatives of the authors rebel and vilify the methodology adopted. First, the SNE is judge and party: it would have been more credible if the Ministry of Culture had undertaken such a study. In addition, this focuses on the 2022 figures for the largest French publishing houses (Hachette Livre, Editis, Madrigall, Média Participations, Albin Michel, Actes Sud, Glénat Editions and for the smallest, Zulma) excluding school publishing and mangas, and by exempting from the scope of analysis booksellers and distributors (which represent 51% of the book value chain). For its part, the SNE is pleased that its study, based on publishers’ accounts, is a first of its kind.
However, this seems insufficient. For the Permanent Council of Writers (CPE), “this spotlight does not illuminate the entire scene”given “a presentation that distorts the reading of reality” And “suggests that all authors benefit from satisfactory remuneration”. The CPE recalls that the publisher’s share goes entirely to a single house, while that allocated to the authors is distributed among the dozens of writers under contract with the publisher.
“Deterioration of the economic and social situation of the perpetrators”
The League of Professional Authors regrets that “the notion of author considered in the study seems to include numerous meanings (remuneration of collection directors, acquisition of rights abroad, advances paid to translators, etc.)”, which distorts reality. Another stumbling block: “The author must pay his social security contributions, his rent and the depreciation of his equipment”, recalls the League. According to Renaud Lefebvre, general director of the SNE, the study specifies that “from his remuneration, the author must cover his own expenses, and in particular his social security contributions”.
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