Are We Seeing the End of Mass Market Paperback Publishing?
If you’d asked me this question a few weeks ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of mass market paperback publishing ending. However, two recent articles have convinced me that it is a very real possibility. And that makes me sad.
Let me make a distinction for you: mass market paperbacks are the small-sized paperbacks (they were originally called “pocket books”), trade paperbacks are larger by about 1.5 inches, and hardbacks are the largest type of book. Traditionally, the mass market paperback began in 1939 with Pocket Books when they published their first ten titles at 25 cents a piece. For the first time, lower-wage earners could have their own personal library of books. It was a revolution in reading as well as publishing.
However, after reading Richard Curtis’s article, “R.I.P. M.M.P.B.” I am convinced that the mass market paperback format will soon be over. Curtis cites 5 main reasons for his conclusion:
Decline in sales. Mass market paperbacks account for almost 3% of all books published, and that number has been declining steadily.
Disappearing mass market displays in chain bookstores in favor of trade paperback displays, and big box stores like Walmart removing them from their stores because of low “profit per foot of display space.”
Extremely low profit margins for the sale of mass market paperbacks.
Ebooks are steadily becoming the preferred format for reprints of hardback titles.
ReaderLink, the largest book wholesaler in the U.S. announced that they will no longer distribute mass market paperbacks after 2025
Sales of mass market paperbacks have steadily declined in recent years, to the point where they accounted for only about 3% of units sold at retailers that report to Circana BookScan in 2024. The format will take another big blow at the end of 2025, when Readerlink will stop distributing mass market paperbacks to its accounts.
It’s hard to refute all of this evidence supporting the end of mass market publishing, but I don’t think it will be a swift death. Mass market paperbacks still make it possible for lower-wage earner to have their own home library, and the appeal of the format is built into the DNA of anyone 40 years and older.
But the writing is on the wall. Maybe not in my lifetime, but mass market publishing will slowly decline until the last few small presses decide to stop publishing. And that will be the end.
NOTE: You can read Mr. Curtis’s article at this link
I like the smaller books because they're physically easier to read. Trades are just a little too big, and hardbacks are heavy and bulky.
Mr Lee 李先生, don’t feel sad! Paperbacks will survive in France because their people are still reading and buying books.