The economics of the book market in the era of digitalization: new business models, opportunities and challenges

Abstract

business models, opportunities and challenges

The article examines the changes in the Russian book market under the influence of digital technologies. Using e‑books, audio formats, subscription services and self‑publishing platforms as examples, the article shows how the ways of distributing works and generating income for authors and publishers are changing. The work uses industry data from 2024: according to Litres Group, the volume of the Russian digital book market reached 18.9 billion rubles, increasing by approximately 6% over the year [6]. Special attention is paid not only to the new opportunities but also to the limitations of the digital model: dependence on platforms, competition for the reader’s attention, and copyright protection. Examining these factors allows us to assess why printed and digital formats today more often complement each other than completely replace one another.