Michelle Mauk of Digital Manga Press (DMP) has confirmed to ICv2 that the company has decided to cut its output from 12 volumes of manga per month to 7 starting in January.  But unlike the cutbacks at Tokyopop (see “Tokyopop Splits into 2 Companies”), which involved a roughly 50% reduction in the number of publications and the cancellation of many series, DMP’s cut in monthly production will not mean that any series will eliminated.  DMP is simply rescheduling displaced titles to later months. 

Also rumors that DMP is folding its more hardcore yaoi 801 imprint into its yaoi/shonen ai June imprint are not true.  Ms. Mauk told ICv2: “801 will continue to remain as it has-and will continue to operate as its own entity.  This is due to the more adult nature of the 801 titles-which would not work with the June imprint.”

According to Ms. Mauk there have been just two layoffs associated with the cutback in the number of titles published and they have both been in the production department.

The cutback in the number of monthly manga releases at DMP echoes a trend towards fewer releases that is now clearly evident among American manga publishers.  Manga publishers had planned an 18% increase in the number of manga volumes in 2008 after a 35% increase in 2007 (see “ICv2 Guide #50”), but sales increases in 2007 and 2008 clearly did not keep up with the percentage increase in the number of manga released.  Even the yaoi/shonen ai category, which has been stable according to reports from retailers and publishers, has had its casualties caused by over production (see “Iris Print Wilts”).