In some ways, these publishers have a model not dissimilar to specialist reissue labels that put out four-CD box sets documenting recondite scenes knowing pretty much exactly how many they will sell. So who is the market? Overwhelmingly it is people who want physical product, says Brackstone. While a crime novel might get 25-33% of its sales from digital editions, music books sell 90% hard copies.
“It’s definitely not as diverse as it should be,” says Brackstone. “That’s something I’m really conscious about. If I’m publishing 14 to 16 books a year, too many are by middle-aged white men. There’s no doubt about that. There have got to be more stories from writers who don’t fit that description.”And some of the best books of recent years have been the opposite of old white dudes reliving the glory days of rock.