
09/01/2025
2025 KDP Author News and Updates
Did you know that:
1. There was a Print Royalty Shake-Up?
Effective June 10, 2025, KDP changed the royalty rate for books priced below certain list prices (for example, less than 9.99 USD) from 60% to 50%. As a result, you’ll have books earning zero royalties after this change. To avoid this, you can update the list price for your affected print books.
Color printing costs have decreased in select markets, offering a potential margin boost for illustrated or colorful titles (Bublish Blog, Nessgraphica).
2. Enhanced Typesetting (ETS) for Kindle eBooks (Effective August 1, 2025). ETS is now mandatory for all new and updated Kindle eBooks—it cannot be disabled anymore.
3. Algorithm & Publishing Policy Updates
Amazon now gives priority to books that perform well in terms of sales and reader ratings, rather than those simply optimized for keywords.
4. Keyword Optimization Updates (Mid‑2025). No keyword duplication allowed—you can’t reuse a term already stated in your category settings.
5. Kindle Assistive Reader Improved (August 2025). The Assistive Reader, an accessibility tool, has been revived and enhanced on Kindle (11th & 12th gen) with more natural TTS voices and better navigation.
6. AI’s Expanding Role in Publishing
Platforms now detect AI-generated content using watermarks and detection tools, and around 30% of new KDP titles reportedly include AI-assisted text.
Although AI aids efficiency, authors are advised to keep the human touch intact and be mindful of quality.
7. Independent & Self-Publishing Volume and Success Trends. Despite concerns about market saturation, independent and self-publishing remains a powerful force: in 2025, over 2.6 million books were self-published, many via independent publishers like JWG Publishing House.