Metadata is changing

For a long time, metadata in publishing was treated as something quietly administrative. Necessary, important, but rarely exciting. A book would be assigned its title, ISBN, BISAC categories, author information, description and a handful of keywords. That metadata would then move through the supply chain and remain relatively unchanged throughout the life of the book.

But the way readers discover books has fundamentally changed. And because discovery has changed, metadata is changing too. Today, metadata is no longer just descriptive information sitting behind a title. Increasingly, it is becoming dynamic — evolving alongside reader behaviour, online conversations, cultural trends and recommendation systems.

In many ways, metadata is starting to behave less like static catalogue data and more like living language.

Readers search differently now

Readers no longer search in neat categories alone. They search emotionally, aesthetically and conversationally. Instead of simply searching for “fantasy fiction”, readers might search for: “Enemies-to-lovers romantasy with morally grey characters”. This shift matters enormously because readers are increasingly searching for experiences, moods and themes rather than rigid genres.

The rise of reader-driven discovery

One of the clearest examples is the rise of “romantasy”. Long before it became widely adopted within the industry, readers on platforms like TikTok and BookTok were already using the term to describe a very specific type of reading experience… fantasy with strong romantic storylines, emotional intensity and immersive world-building.

Discovery language is now often being shaped by readers themselves. As a result, metadata can no longer remain static. Publishers are increasingly updating keywords, descriptions, thematic associations and website content to reflect how readers actually discuss books online in real time.

Behaviour is becoming metadata

At the same time, reader behaviour itself is becoming part of the metadata ecosystem. Platforms increasingly analyse clicks, saves, completion rates, reviews, shares and purchase patterns to shape recommendations and visibility. In effect, readers are helping train discovery systems.

AI-driven search is accelerating this even further. Readers are increasingly asking conversational questions such as: “What’s a good fantasy book for someone who loved The Night Circus?”

AI systems attempt to interpret tone, theme, mood and audience relevance, not just keywords. This creates a major opportunity for publishers willing to enrich their metadata beyond the basics. Discoverability increasingly depends on helping systems understand not just what a book is, but what kind of experience it offers.

Metadata is becoming dynamic

Metadata is also becoming more connected to real-time signals such as stock availability, format access, subscription eligibility and regional availability. A highly discoverable book that cannot be fulfilled quickly risks losing momentum entirely.

For publishers, this means metadata is no longer simply operational data. It is increasingly a core part of discoverability, recommendation and audience engagement strategy. The future of metadata is not static spreadsheets completed once before publication. It is adaptive, behavioural, thematic and continuously evolving alongside the way readers discover books online.

And perhaps most interestingly of all, as discovery becomes more algorithmic, metadata is becoming more human.

‍