Authors fear the worst if Penguin owner takes over Simon & Schuster

Analysis: if Bertelsmann, owner of Penguin Random House, buys US publisher, writers expect smaller deals and less choice for readersUK watchdog investigates Penguin owner’s Simon & Schuster takeoverJokes circulated online when, in 2013, Penguin and Random House merged: would the new mega-publisher, which became the world’s biggest trade publishing group, be known as Random Penguin? Penguin House? Now, as the prosaically named Penguin Random House’s parent company Bertelsmann’s $2.17bn acquisition of Simon & Schuster comes under scrutiny in the UK, the jokes are fewer and further between.Authors have made it abundantly clear that they fear the fallout if the deal goes ahead. When it was first announced last November, the Authors Guild in the US was quick to register its objections. The acquisition, which would bring heavyweight S&S authors including Hillary Clinton, John Irving, Stephen King and Bob Woodward under the PRH umbrella in the US, would “creat[e] a huge imbalance in the US publishing industry”, it warned, calling on the US justice department to step in. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-03-22 23:24:23 UTC ]

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Unit Sales Dropped 6.5% in Mid-December

The publishing industry does not look like it is headed for a big finish to 2018. In the week ended Dec. 15, 2018, unit sales of print books fell 6.5% compared to the similar week in 2017 at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S president hails 'magnificent year' in staff briefing

Simon & Schuster president and c.e.o. Carolyn Reidy has discussed the “phenomenal” sales of Bob Woodward’s Fear, the fastest selling audiobook in the publisher’s history, whilst acknowledging the booming backlist sales and the UK big-hitters in a staff newsletter heralding a "magnificent" year.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reidy Touts 2018 as S&S's 'Most Successful Year'

In addition to a string of bestsellers, Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy cited strong gains in digital audio and backlist sales as keys to the “most successful year in Simon & Schuster's history.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Centrello Details Crown Reorg

The newly combined Random House and Crown publishing groups will be known as Random House. David Drake, Aaron Wehner, and Tina Constable have been given prominent roles in the new Crown, while Crown publisher Molly Stern will leave the company. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rebuck's pioneering publishing career explored on 'South Bank Show'

Baroness Gail Rebuck, chair of Penguin Random House UK, has told "The South Bank Show" that she gave herself just 100 days to prove she could be chief executive of a major publishing business, after taking over the reins at Random House in 1991. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of December 10, 2018

NBA finalist Téa Obreht sells a novel to Random House, Beach Lane buys an Amy Cherrix picture book for six figures, Avery picks up a title on gut health for a rumored high-six-figure sum, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Let's ensure inclusivity is the norm and not a trend,' Lovegrove urges

It is “absolutely the responsibility” of the publishing industry to inspire and empower the next generation, Dialogue Books publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove has said, while urging the trade to ensure inclusivity in the workplace is "the norm, and not just a trend". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stephen King, Lin-Manuel Miranda and other celebs salute ‘legendary adventurer in screenwriting’ William Goldman

William Goldman famously penned the words “Nobody knows anything” in his Hollywood memoir “Adventures in the Screen Trade.” But in the wake of his passing, it is clear that the film industry does know one thing: how much Goldman will be missed. The Oscar-winning screenwriter of “All the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books News: Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’ Finally Hits Shelves

The publishing industry might have to think back to Harry Potter’s heyday for a book that has garnered as much attention as the former first lady’s has. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2018-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Spear phishing' scams continue post-Frankfurt

The global rash of phishing targeted towards the publishing industry is continuing after the Frankfurt Book Fair, with at least one targeted company calling on the New York attorney general to mount an investigation, The Bookseller has learned. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ferrari-Adler, Loehnen Launch New Imprint at S&S

Avid Reader Press, a new fiction and nonfiction imprint at Simon & Schuster to be overseen by current S&S editors Jofie Ferrari-Adler and Ben Loehnen, is set to unveil its first list in late 2019 or early 2020. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Picks: Books of the Week, October 29, 2018

This week: new books from Stephen King, Charlaine Harris, Michael Connelly, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Report: Diversity in children’s books is even worse than you think

This 11-year old girl demands more diversity for children’s books, which are overwhelmingly about “white boys and their dogs.” The lessons of Fenty Beauty and Black Panther have not yet trickled down to the world of children’s books. Apparently, the publishing industry has not yet realized that... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Elsevier Contributes Book Aid’s Millionth Volume, Simon Restructures Touchstone

The Za'atari Camp in Jordan is part of Book Aid International's refugee outreach, supported by Elsevier and other publishers. And Simon & Schuster's Touchstone goes to the Atria and Gallery Books lists. The post Industry Notes: Elsevier Contributes Book Aid’s Millionth Volume, Simon... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH US merges two major divisions, Random House and Crown

PRH US has combined two of its adult publishing divisions, Random House and Crown, under the leadership of Gina Centrello, president and publisher of Random House (pictured). Crown president and publisher Maya Mavjee will leave the company at the end of the year. David Drake, executive vice... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books News: Penguin Random House Merges Two of its Successful Publishing Lines

Gina Centrello, president and publisher of Random House, will oversee the merged publishing lines of Random House and the Crown Publishing Group. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: IPA Election Results; McIntosh Combines Crown and Random House

In organizational and corporate changes this month, the International Publishers Association's elections refresh committees while Penguin Random House US repositions Crown Publishing. The post Industry Notes: IPA Election Results; McIntosh Combines Crown and Random House appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Random House and Crown Publishing Groups Merge

The Crown Publishing Group has joined the Random House Publishing Group in a newly-combined super group reporting to Gina Centrello, who has been named president and publisher. The imprints will retain their distinct editorial identities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Merkh Forms Hybrid Publisher

After leaving traditional publishing, in which he served in executive roles with Nelson Books and at Simon & Schuster’s Howard Books division, Jonathan Merkh has joined the ranks of hybrid publishers with his new company, Forefront Books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Books Bestsellers: 'Red War' Takes to the Top

The hubbub over Bob Woodward's Fear has finally subsided, at least in the Apple Books store, where it has been replaced, at #1, by Kyle Mills and Vince Flynn's 'Red War.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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