I kept wondering why people were using “KDP” when it was actually “KU” they were referring to, or should have been referring to. Then I realized it wasn’t coming from them, but from Amazon. This corporation, though, has long been one of the worst communicators. So, let’s clarify.

KDP—Kindle Direct Publishing—does not require an exclusivity contract for eBooks. KDP is the same thing you’d find on many non-Amazon platforms nowadays, and it’s no longer unique as a result. There’s growing competition with Amazon in this niche.

KU—Kindle Unlimited, which is also “KDP Select”—requires an eBook exclusivity contract. The eBook can be sold only on Amazon. It is unique, as other platforms do not have an equivalent, or if they attempt to, they do not have a large enough market audience to be viable. With KU, authors get paid per page turned, rather than per unit sold. It has been a stable revenue source, or cash cow, for indie authors—a means for us to make our living. KU redefined indie publishing, making it possible for authors who aren’t signed to a publishing house (indie authors) to make a living from their books. Think of KDP as a corporate department. KU is a sub-department under it. Most issues nowadays affecting KDP indie authors pertain to KU.