Book sales hit record highs in 2019, but publishers ‘now need help’

Figures for last year show sales of £6.3bn, up 20% on 2015, but the Publishers Association says sector needs government support to weather coronavirusBook sales in the UK hit record levels in 2019, driven by a surge in audiobook and nonfiction titles, according to new figures released as publishers warn of the huge impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on the industry.Book sales rose to £6.3bn in 2019, up 4% on 2018, when sales fell for the first time in five years, and 20% on 2015. According to the latest figures from the Publishers Association (PA), overall print sales were up 3% to £3.5bn in 2019 and digital sales were up 4% to £2.8bn, driven by a 39% increase in audiobook downloads. Digital formats accounted for 44% of the market in 2019, up from 40% in 2015. Related: Harry Potter books prove UK lockdown hit despite JK Rowling trans rights row Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-07-21 23:01:08 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Book sales hit record highs in 2019, but publishers ‘now need help’"


Adult Trade, Children's Categories Posted Six-Month Gains

Sales of adult trade book rose 3.1% in the first six months of 2017 over the comparable period in 2016, according to figures released by the AAP. Sales of children’s/young adult books increased 4.5% over the first half of 2016. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bringing the magic of Harry Potter to life

Acting children's editor and Harry Potter fan Caroline Carpenter gives her verdict on the British Library's new Harry Potter exhibition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Brexit Viewpoint: Stephen Lotinga, UK Publishers Association

'We have to be realistic about the European market,' says the Publishers Association's Stephen Lotinga. 'It's been declining over the last five years.' The post Brexit Viewpoint: Stephen Lotinga, UK Publishers Association appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'Sigh of relief' over Italy's book market

Italy's book market is “leaving the [economic] crisis behind” with “positive signals” including a small rise in the value of print sales. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Conway and Howells appointed PA's heads of public affairs and comms

Dan Conway is set to join the Publishers Association as head of public affairs and Ruth Howells has been appointed as its head of communications in two newly-created roles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


E-book Sales Up in in May, for First Time in Two Years

E-book sales at trade houses rose 2.4% in May 2017 for the first time since 2015, according to new figures released by the Association of American Publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


With No Potter, Sales Plunged at Scholastic in Q1

A 52% decline in Scholastic's children’s book publishing group was blamed on the absence of a major bestseller. In fiscal 2017, the publisher's sales were driven by 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,' which was released during the first quarter of last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Print sales for Hillary Clinton’s book are best in five years for a nonfiction release

Preliminary numbers are finally out for Hillary Clinton’s newly released book, What Happened, and sales are doing quite well. According to the Associated Press, the book has already sold more than 300,000 copies–which includes hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. The hard copy sales, however, are... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2017-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


With No Harry Potter Bump, July 2017 Bookstore Sales Slipped 1.9%

While July sales last year were mightily padded by the release of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,' which came out July 31, 2016, July 2017 saw no such blockbuster. Thanks in large part to this, July 2017 sales were down 1.9%, compared to the same time last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The commitments

Philip Jones addresses the Publishers Association's industry-wide action plan to tackle inclusivity, and why it is needed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Building Inclusivity in Publishing conference returns in November

The Building Inclusivity in Publishing conference, run by the London Book Fair and the Publishers Association, will return for a second year on 13th November 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


BBC programme will mark BL Harry Potter exhibition

The BBC will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter with “rarely seen documents from J K Rowling’s archives, revealing her magical inspirations” in the run up to the British Library’s exhibition next month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


US publishers' audio sales up 29% this year

Downloaded audio revenues in the US rose 29% in the first four months of this year by comparison to the same period in 2016, with April in particular surging to a 34% year-on-year rise, according to the latest figures from the Association of American Publishers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Russian Book Market Consolidation: Is It Closing Out Smaller Players?

Larger book publishing companies in Russia attract more government support, say critics, while smaller houses struggle to keep up. The post Russian Book Market Consolidation: Is It Closing Out Smaller Players? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Tiger Who Came to Tea hits million-copy milestone

Print sales of Judith Kerr's The Tiger Who Came to Tea have surpassed one million sold mark ahead of its 50th anniversary next year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A 'Hamilton' backlash? Why none of that matters with this history-making tour

Jumping on bandwagons is my least favorite activity. Don't force me to tell you all the must-see movies I've skipped ("Forrest Gump" is all you'll get out of me), the No. 1 best-sellers I've bypassed (I discovered the world of "Harry Potter" only after it became a play) or the platinum records... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'Harry Potter' screenings break Durham Book Festival records

The screenings of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone" at Durham Cathedral has broken all of the city’s book festival records with 1,500 tickets selling out in one day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


DfE has 'questions' to answer over maths textbook scheme

Colin Hughes, chair of the Publishers Association's Education Publishers Council, has called into question the Department for Education's (DfE) method of evaluating textbooks for its South Asian maths teaching programme, after just one textbook was approved for the scheme. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Books Suffer from Potter Curse, Sales Tumble 17%

Unit sales of print books in the week ended Aug. 6, 2017, were down 17% from the similar week in 2016 at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. The decline was due entirely to the release last year at this time of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which sold about 2.5 million... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Potter playscript pips rivals to the post

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Sphere) has bewitched the UK Official Top 50 for a second week, holding the number one spot with 23,711 copies sold, according to Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this