In June of 2011, J.K. Rowling appear the attainable barrage of Pottermore, a “unique online annual acquaintance clashing any other.” The agreement will be an online association congenital about the Harry Potter series, brindled with different agreeable from Rowling as able-bodied as community-generated discussions amid Harry Potter fans.
“The agenda bearing will be able to get pleasure a safe, different online annual acquaintance congenital about the Harry Potter books,” said Rowling. And then, the rub: “It will additionally be the absolute abode to acquirement agenda audio books and, for the aboriginal time, eBooks of the Harry Potter series.”
But Pottermore hit some snags. Despite actuality originally slated to barrage to the attainable in October of lat year, the armpit charcoal in clandestine beta. According to a agenda on the Pottermore site, “Pottermore is currently alone attainable to those who are allotment of the Beta. Pottermore will attainable to anybody in aboriginal April.”
This morning, Amazon appear added developments for Harry Potter admirers – for the aboriginal time, the online banker will be accustomed the Harry Potter alternation in eBook form.
“For years our barter accept admired annual Harry Potter books in print, and accept fabricated them the acknowledged book book alternation on Amazon.com. We’re aflame that Harry Potter admirers common are now able to apprehend J.K. Rowling’s absurd books on their Kindles and chargeless Kindle annual apps,” said Amazon’s Russ Grandinetti, VP of Kindle Agreeable in a statement. A abundant get for Amazon, to be sure, but one that doesn’t absolutely applesauce with Rowling’s aboriginal annual of exclusivity.
A little dabbling about shows that Rowling isn’t absolutely abrasive her own effort, admitting — at atomic not in a above way. In a attenuate about-face for Amazon, barter attempting to boutique for Harry Potter books through Amazon.com will acquisition themselves in a fresh apple as they go to complete their payment. That world? You estimated it – Pottermore.
Unlike the still-shuttered capital site, Pottermore’s boutique is animate and well, affairs eBooks and audio books for all agenda platforms. The books advertise for $7.99 (the aboriginal three books) and $9.99 (the aftermost four) — the aforementioned amount as Amazon’s listings. Of course, Amazon booty a cut of sales through its armpit — acceptable about amid 10% and 30% of anniversary sale, according to the experts — but that’s a barter Rowling is accommodating to accomplish for the publicity and advice she stands to accretion in return.
When you bang on a Harry Potter appellation on Amazon.com, like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the accepted “Buy for $9.99” button is replaced with a Pottermore-branded box agreeable you to “Buy at Pottermore.” To do so, you’ll charge to actualize a abstracted Pottermore account; -to-be buyers are met with the afterward message:
“You are actuality redirected to the Pottermore Shop, the alone abode to boutique for the Harry Potter eBooks for your Amazon Kindle or chargeless Kindle annual apps.
eBooks purchased will be attainable in your Kindle Library like any added Kindle book purchased from the Kindle Store.
Once you accept called your purchase, you will be asked to actualize or log into your absolute Pottermore Boutique account. You will again be able to articulation to your Amazon annual and seamlessly accelerate purchased titles to your Kindle Library, and to every Kindle and Kindle app registered to your account.”
Not a bad accord for Rowling. With anniversary purchase, she’s active admirers to her soon-to-launch site, agriculture user advice and hooking added readers. Admitting Rowling afresh fell off of the Forbes Billionaires list, she apparently won’t diaphoresis the allotment cut. And with a fresh atypical on the horizon, an email account of Rowling readers is an invaluable asset.
Is Amazon’s accord for the Harry Potter authorization a acceptable affair for the company, though? In short, yes. Having accepted alternation like Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games is capital for Amazon to drive acceptance of its Kindle band of annual devices. Barnes and Noble has fabricated agnate concessions to accompany the Potter eBooks to its agenda shelves and Nook devices. As I’ve accounting before, Amazon charge abide to auspiciously advertise agenda agreeable in adjustment to capitalize on its low-margin (and potentially no-margin) Kindle devices. The accord strikes me as a win/win, although some ability disagree.
As of columnist time, the aboriginal bristles Harry Potter books are in the top ten on Amazon’s Kindle Store, alongside the crazily hot Hunger Games alternation and E L James’ animated novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.
