Print Run Podcast · Erik Hane and Laura Zats

Episode 166—Give ‘Em What They’re Owed

October 4, 2023·56 min·5 clips

Eric and Laura debut their new recording studio in Lake Como, but it has no chairs or sound treatment.

This episode of the Print Run Podcast features hosts Eric Hain and Laura Zatz recording from their new, echoey studio as Laura settles into a recent move. They discuss two topics they rate as medium-plus in size regarding the publishing industry. The hosts begin with a casual, behind-the-scenes conversation about selecting paint and a rug for sound treatment. The first main topic addresses a recent New York Times article about the financial struggles of Barnes & Noble, noting its reported $20 million loss. Hain and Zatz analyze the company's strategy of opening smaller, localized stores and its competition with Amazon. They reference specific comments from Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt about the company's direction and challenges. The conversation explores the broader economic pressures on physical book retailers. The hosts examine the complex relationship between publishers, authors, and large retail chains. They consider how market dynamics affect advances and royalties for writers. The discussion questions whether current retail models are sustainable for all parties involved. A surprising claim is that a major bookstore chain's reported losses might not fully capture its strategic repositioning. The hosts find it interesting that the localization of inventory is presented as a key survival tactic. They debate whether publishers bear an unfair burden in supporting brick-and-mortar retail through discount structures. An insight is that an author's potential earnings are deeply entangled with these retail economics. The episode questions who ultimately benefits from current industry practices. A memorable moment involves the hosts' tangible frustration with the cyclical nature of these publishing debates. The tone is informal and conversational, featuring the hosts' familiar banter and personal asides. The style is analytical but accessible, breaking down industry news for a professional audience. This episode would appeal to authors, publishing professionals, and anyone interested in the business mechanics of bookselling. Listeners seeking a highly produced, narrative-driven show might find the raw studio sound and digressive chat less engaging.

As heard by us

Studio chatter and labor solidarity sit side by side, with more bite than polish.

Print Run starts in a new Lake Como studio with the usual fuss over chairs, sound treatment, paint, and a rug that still has not been picked. Eric Hain and Laura Zatz keep it light, and the banter feels lived in rather than polished.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a chatty Print Run catch-up that keeps the focus on the workers behind the books.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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