Perspectives

Historical analysis of bibliometric trends shows scholarly publishing market consolidation over the years. These changes are linked to the emergence of The Big Deal subscription model and Open Access initiatives that have forced publishers into a rapid shift towards new business models focused on volume and scalability.

The last few years have been a period of rapid market consolidation in scholarly publishing. In addition to publishers acquiring smaller publishers, we are seeing an ongoing decline in the number of the independent society publishers as more and more continue to sign on with larger publishing partners.

Community perceptions of peer review have significant stakes for publishers of medical and scientific journals. The value delivered by peer review in the eyes of the community is directly tied to the value of a society’s journal portfolio. Given its critical role in the research ecosystem, we must consider the future of peer review as well—whether it is delivering on its promise, how it might evolve, and what implications this may have for journal publishers, authors, and readers.