Random House Has Caved to Wylie on eBook Royalty Rates

Told you so: "While Applebaum held the line on the question of the digital royalty rate--he said that 'Random House has been engaging in ongoing and productive conversations relating to e-book rights for certain Random House backlist titles and the arrangement reached with The Wylie Agency to now publish these particular titles as e-books in the United States is consistent with agreements we've reached with other literary agents'--one high-placed source with direct knowledge of the rights talks said the house has quietly been offering agents a better deal on backlist e-book rights for a brief period now. The source said Random is offering a royalty built around a sliding schedule on e-book rights for backlist titles that can approach 40% 'rather quickly.'" - Publishers Weekly