A few weeks ago I posted on the Kindle and its potential effect on the publishing industry. A New York Times Op-Ed piece by Paul Krugman – Bits, Bands, and Books – has more to say about how the world is changing for authors and publishers. He points to the Grateful Dead, who proclaimed that merchandising made up for lost revenue from fans who recorded and distributed their music for free.
That keeps pop culture alive. What about literature? Bring on the patrons.