Anguish and Robbery
On Friday (10 August 2007) the Australian Publishers Association put out a statement on behalf of its members saying its members were "outraged by the way in which Angus & Robertson have unilaterally taken action against a significant number of small and medium sized Australian publishers."
The politely expressed outrage is over the bookselling chain's decision to demand what they're calling a "publisher contribution" - to be paid within four weeks - in order to "remain a supplier to Angus & Robertson company stores".
The "publisher contribution" might also be described as "rent" or "key money" and is a concept that could have far-reaching consequences, if it's taken up across the retail sector. (Imagine your local mixed business demanding a contribution from suppliers such as, say, Dairy Farmers, Coca Cola, Coon Cheese and Tip-Top if they want their products on her shelves ...)
The sums being demanded by Anguish & Robbery (the historic nickname that now takes on a new life) are on a sliding scale, apparently, ranging from $1,500 to more than $45,000.
It probably wouldn't bother Dan Brown or JK Rowling but for home-grown small and medium publishers, it's yet another obstacle to survival.
Maree McCaskill, CEO of the APA says in their statement, "More than half of the APA's membership has received letters from Angus & Robertson - either directly or through their distributors. Our publisher members have contractual trading arrangements with Angus and Robertson - negotiated and agreed to by both parties - and this demand for additional, significant sums of money which, if not paid, would mean a lack of access to any Angus and Robertson company stores, has come as an enormous shock."
