Derek Thompson unravels the mystery of Fifty Shades’ mega-salesThere are no doubt plenty of people - but probably not as many as read the book - who simply can’t fathom how EL James can have sold more than 125m copies of Fifty Shades of Grey. Derek Thompson is here to help. The reason, it transpires, is pretty straightforward: a winning combination of social connection, five-star ebook reviews, the fan-fiction community and, finally, marketing. That might sound banal, but in Hit Makers, Thompson does a really fascinating job of explaining how things become popular, drawing on a wide range of cultural phenomena, from Star Wars to the iPhone, Taylor Swift to Game of Thrones. Reading its countless interesting references, it quickly becomes clear that Hit Makers is less a how-to guide – Thomson believes success is often “semichaotic” – and more a how-come? conversation with an engaging popular culture expert. The conclusion? Mere imitation rarely begets a hit, but the elusive combination of familiarity, innovation and marketing stands a better chance.• Hit Makers: How Things Become Popular by Derek Thompson is published by Allen Lane (£20). To order a copy for £15 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99 Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2017-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
Shake it off, retailers: Taylor Swift’s self-published tour book may be a Target exclusive, but music journalist Annie Zeleski is stepping into that blank space. Plus Richard Paul Evans has readersseeing double, and deluxe editions continue to entice. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-12-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The first week print sales nearly matched Barack Obama’s “A Promised Land,” and put her well ahead of Prince Harry’s “Spare.” And she did it while selling only at Target, avoiding Amazon and bookstores. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-12-05 23:43:11 UTC ]
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Taylor Swift’s publishing gambit has paid off on the strength of her brand, with ‘The Eras Tour Book’ selling just over 814,000 copies in its first week on sale and only through Target locations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-12-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The Duolingo owl is single-wingedly rewriting the modern mascot playbook and unlocking new business along the way. On a Friday morning in mid-October, crowds of people—many in elaborate costumes—poured into the Jacob Javits convention center on Manhattan’s far west side. They were attending day... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2024-11-14 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Fans will love these deep dives into 'Ted Lasso,' Taylor Swift, and 'Gilmore Girls.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble names their best nonfiction books of 2024, Taylor Swift's upcoming Eras Tour book, and more nonfiction news this week. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-11-01 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Over the course of her career, Judy-Lynn del Rey earned a reputation as a superstar editor among her authors. Think of your favorite fantasy or science-fiction novel. You’ll know the author and title, of course. But can you think of its editor or publisher? Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2024-10-10 19:30:00 UTC ]
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Although the holiday weekend has come to a close, some Labor Day sales are still available. Historically, Labor Day isn't a boon for tech deals but there are always a few decent ones that pop up, particularly in the outdoor tech space. Labor Day sales often overlap with back-to-school sales as... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-09-03 14:30:14 UTC ]
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It’s almost Labor Day so the sales have started to trickle in. Here’s a cool one. A whole bunch of Lego sets are on sale for 25 percent off from, uh, Barnes & Noble. That may not make sense on paper, but we assure you that these discounts are very real. It’s tough to pick the “best”... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-08-26 15:23:20 UTC ]
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A partnership between the Digital Public Library of America and the Independent Publishers Group is offering an e-book ownership option from a wide range of indie publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The former Reader-in-Chief released his summer reading list for 2024 and it includes a wide range of fiction and nonfiction. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-13 13:30:00 UTC ]
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Senior VP Lisa Sharkey has been tapped to helm Harper Influence, which will publish a "wide range of nonfiction spanning popular culture," including general lifestyle, entertainment, and inspiration. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Arm has confirmed that it will be offering its next-gen Arm compute platform, called Arm CSS for Client, at Android smartphones. Executives also mentioned that they could be used for PCs as well. The announcement follows an earlier report that indicated that Arm might expand its... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2024-05-29 22:44:57 UTC ]
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Manufacturers may hate independent repair stores, but Samsung and Apple appeared to accept the direction the political wind was blowing in. Sadly, Samsung’s warm-hearted embrace of third party repair may not have been as loving as had originally been suggested. Details of the contract the Korean... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-05-24 11:15:08 UTC ]
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Paul Tremblay’s YA debut goes to Quill Tree Books, St. Martin’s signs an exploration of Taylor Swift’s Nashville years, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Fans who were girls in the era of Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Twilight are now the women who have powered the success of Barbie and the Eras Tour. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-02-18 19:51:27 UTC ]
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His charming memoir “What Have We Here?” traces the path from a Harlem childhood to “Star Wars,” while lamenting the roles that never came his way. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-02-13 10:00:45 UTC ]
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'Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography,' now in its 7th month on sale, is the #7 book in the country. Plus Snoop Dogg and Earl “E-40” Stevens serve up a new cookbook, 'Goon with the Spoon,' and Skyward series author Brandon Sanderson remains 'Defiant.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-01 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Weekly has selected 150 books across a wide range of categories for their best books of 2023. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-10-27 14:36:13 UTC ]
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“Roughing the Princess,” an erotic e-book inspired by an actual relationship, veered too close to reality for many of Taylor Swift’s fans. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-10-25 13:45:13 UTC ]
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