They could also coordinate the
whole process as a service for their clientele, establishing a concrete list of tangible services to promote the book, report and analyze sales, use their influence in the marketplace to get a better
deal for the author in the future
with a traditional house or a better
deal through ebook
publishers — while also managing subrights and the author's career.
Since they have long since
dealt with their production costs, this is just «free money» to the
publisher but devalues the market as a
whole.