Sale of e-books and audiobooks in Ukraine

Abstract

The research examines the functioning of e-book and audiobook aggregators in Ukraine’s modern publishing market. The development of e-books is crucial for the industry in conditions where the publication of printed material is significantly complicated or sometimes impossible due to war. Previous studies by M. Zhenchenko have already shed light on many aspects of digital distribution in Ukraine (2013, 2015, 2018), but the number of participants has significantly increased since then, which prompts the consideration of new market players. Aggregator services are the primary suppliers of e-books from various publishers. The research covers 23 such services operating as of the beginning of 2023, identifying common trends in their operations and reviewing the platforms they utilize. The aim of the study is to find and analyze data on active participants in digital distribution in Ukraine’s publishing market and identify common trends and principles of their work. To achieve this goal, general scientific research methods were employed, including observation, synthesis, analysis, and classification. The article provides data on the state and dynamics of the digital publication market in Ukraine. Its findings can serve as a source of information for future research and contribute to enhancing the user experience in purchasing e-books. The market for digital publications in Ukraine is gradually growing. The number of aggregator services and publishers that sell e-books has increased significantly over the past few years, and their technical capabilities allow users to access content on various offline and online devices. Within the framework of the study, general trends and principles of the functioning of digital publication aggregator services were revealed. Further research on the distribution of e-books and audiobooks will be updated with the appearance of new digital publication aggregator services and digital publishing projects in Ukraine in general, with the development of methods of access to digital content and payment.