[747-8F]

This isn't different from the media industry's overall evolution.

Publishers aren't different from Audio media. Authors have mkt reach through digital channels, unlike constraints of bookshelf logistics.

Why aren't they directly publishing their material? Margins are higher, without publisher fees.

[dragandj]

Many authors do, but how likely it is that the potential reader finds their books among the millions of books pushed through channels saturated by well-oiled publisher-controlled marketing machine?