Modern Trends in the Development of Global Book Publishing: by Edition Format
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28925/2524-2652.2026.127Keywords:
edition format, book publishing, digital formats, printed books, e-books, audiobooks, e-readers, summaries, smartphoneAbstract
The era of global digitalization has brought significant changes to the international book publishing industry. E-books, audiobooks, summaries, web novels, and AR editions are increasingly becoming established traditions of reader consumption. Additionally, digital reading platforms are undergoing rapid adaptation and quantitative growth. The purpose of this research is to analyse the structure of global book publishing within the context of its primary formats and current development trends. Among the main objectives of the study was to identify modern trends in the digital publishing segment, demonstrate its position within the structure of traditional printed editions across various countries, and ascertain Ukrainian achievements in this field. The methodological framework of the study is based on a source-based analysis of statistical and narrative materials, utilizing methods and techniques of mathematical statistics, deduction and induction, analogy, and synthesis. The scientific novelty of the article lies in identifying the structural state of the publishing industry by book product format across different countries, including digital content. It was revealed that global book publishing is undergoing a period of digital transformation. In addition to traditional printed editions, e-books, and audiobooks, new formats have emerged, including: book summaries, serial literature, hybrid (immersive) editions, visual novels, interactive prose, and augmented reality (AR) books. A characteristic trend is the dominance of smartphones for reading and listening to books, which are gradually displacing traditional e-readers and CD players. The digital book market maintains immense potential and is developing rapidly, particularly in the audio format. The study determined that even the world’s leading countries apply different approaches to the promotion and popularization of various book formats. The effectiveness of subscription models for audience engagement and the monetization of digital projects was also identified. It is concluded that modern global book publishing, while relying on traditional production and distribution formats, is an innovative and rapidly progressing industry, especially within the digital segment. In Ukraine, a rapid pace of development in digital book formats is observed, particularly in the audio segment; however, the printed paper book remains dominant as a symbol of the people’s identity and resilience.
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