2024 YEAR IN REVIEW.

In the "2024 Year in Review" article from Writer's Digest, several significant developments in the publishing industry are highlighted. Romance and romantasy genres have experienced a surge in popularity, with increased sales and a growing number of romance bookstores. However, the Romance Writers of America (RWA) filed for bankruptcy due to low membership and the changing landscape of self-publishing. OpenAI faced legal challenges and licensing deals from media companies. Spotify's introduction of audiobooks as part of its subscription service has spurred growth in the audiobook market. Small Press Distribution (SPD), the only nonprofit book distributor in the U.S., closed its doors due to financial challenges. The success of self-help book "The Shadow Work Journal" on TikTok led to a seven-figure advance and a publishing deal with Simon & Schuster. Former Penguin Random House CEO launched Authors Equity, a publishing company that offers high profit-sharing arrangements to authors. Apple News has become a major news platform, paying millions of dollars to publishers. Costco announced that it will reduce its regular stocking of books, and concerns were raised about the political bias of The New York Times Bestseller List. Barnes & Noble purchased Tattered Cover Bookstore, and declining sales of middle-grade children's books raised concerns. The article also pays tribute to notable figures in the literary world who passed away in 2024. [Extracted from the article]