Details
The challenges faced in 2020 are expected to continue into 2021 and beyond; 2021 is already shaping up to be a very difficult year for library budgets. We also understand that publishers need to have more visibility and predictability into future revenue sharing and to have payments be processed as quickly as possible. In response, we are introducing some changes to the Revenue Sharing program. These changes will impact how your payment amount will be calculated, starting with the 2021 payment that you will receive in the first quarter of 2022. Here is a summary of the changes:
- We will look at the percentage of the Annual Access Fee (AAF) revenue each title earned in 2020 cumulatively across all archive and thematic collections. This percentage will be the ongoing base revenue percentage for each title. Please note: In 2020, we distributed the highest cumulative payments across all publishers.
- This base revenue percentage will take into consideration all the collections licensed to institutions, specifically archive and thematic journal collections (both specific collections like A&S I and discipline specific collections as well as pooled collections such as the Public Library collection) and Corporate Collection.
- Each year, we will apply the base revenue percentage for each title against the net AAF revenue received from institutions across the archive and thematic journal collections.
- For example: If a journal’s base revenue percentage is 0.05%, the journal will receive a dollar amount equal to 0.05% of the net AAF revenue from institutions across the archive and thematic collections in the applicable year.
- JSTOR will also be working to provide revenue updates and future projections at times during the year to assist in your budget planning.
- Individual access models such as JPASS will continue to be calculated and paid separately.
We will follow up with an updated revenue sharing rider in 2021 around the time we send out your 2020 Revenue Sharing payment. Contact us at publishers@jstor.org for further questions or concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How will my payment for 2021 compare to what I was paid for 2020?
A: Due to expected declines in AAF revenues and the negative impact COVID-19 has had on academic institution budgets globally, we are telling publishers to prepare for a possible reduction in revenue sharing payments. We prioritized and sent 2021 renewal invoices much earlier than usual to help secure renewals. Our Outreach and Marketing teams also continue to communicate with institutions around the world to secure new licenses to Archive and Thematic Collections.
Q: Can changes to page counts, usage, or moving walls increase my revenue sharing total in 2021?
A: Decreasing the moving wall and fluctuations to page counts and usage will no longer have an impact on revenue sharing for 2021 or later.
Q: Are there other ways to increase revenue sharing for individual titles in 2021?
A: For publishers not in our Publisher Sales Service (PSS), we can discuss opportunities to participate in the program and to help increase your revenues by selling issues and/or articles to individuals. For publishers already participating in PSS, we can explore options to shorten your moving walls to help increase individual sales of your issues and articles, in addition to evaluating the pricing you have set for these.
Q: Can new titles be added to existing Arts & Science or Thematic Collections?
A: We are not adding any new titles to existing collections.
Q: Will this model be applied to JSTOR’s future collections?
A: This new model was established for existing collections and we will be evaluating what will be the best and fair model for publishers if they are to include any new titles in new collections.
Q: Will there be the ability to get updated projections throughout the year?
A: We are not yet sure when we will have forecast updates available this year, but this is something we are working to support as part of the new revenue sharing model. Our goal is to have the ability to periodically provide publishers with updates on earned revenue sharing across all titles each calendar year.