The failure of a recent bid to merge two large publishing companies shines a light on a central issue of cultural powerDespite a rise in self-publishing, commercial publishers are still the main gatekeepers of what arrives on our bookshelves. As such, they have great cultural and – if a book takes off – economic power. A case decided in a US court this week provided an insight into just how much of that power is now concentrated in a small handful of multinational companies.At issue was a planned merger of Simon & Schuster with Penguin Random House (PRH) – two of the so-called big five, which between them control 90% of the US publishing market, a fact not always obvious to the casual observer, as books usually carry on their spines the names of imprints, or subdivisions, of the parent company. PRH, itself the result of a mega-merger in 2013, runs about 300 imprints. Given the reach of these companies – PRH is active in more than 20 countries – the Department of Justice’s successful argument that the planned $2.2bn deal would “exert outsized influence over which books are published in the United States and how much authors are paid for their work” applies globally. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-04 18:25:28 UTC ]
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Apple heads to a U.S. federal court Monday to face civil accusations that it conspired with five publishers to drive up the price of electronic books in the weeks leading up to the 2010 introduction of the iPad. Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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There are so many things wrong with the new book The MILF Diet by former Whole Foods chef Jessica Porter it's difficult to know where to begin. But its name is probably the most glaring so let's dive in there. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Commonwealth Book Prize has been won by UK debut author Lisa O'Donnell, while the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The National Book Critics Circle recently surveyed reviewers about whether ethics guidelines are necessary for the industry. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An interactive children's book to help kids think outside the box is the May showcase winner of data competition Mix & Mash. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Expo America, BEA, used to be the place to go to get your hands dirty with printer's ink--all the books were hot off the presses. Now the annual industry gathering at New York City's Javitz Center has been increasingly invaded by geeks. I'm one of these geeks, despite the fact that I've... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A few years ago, publishers were looking at what was happening to the music industry and saw digital in an apocalyptic light--now they’re racing to join the digital content fray. “There are still challenges and the margins are still smaller on the digital side, but publishers are figuring out... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The opening keynote of BookExpo America suggests the top concerns facing the US book market in 2013 remain much the same: ebooks, self-publishing, and how to win readers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Society of Young Publishers is to publish the poetry of a terminally ill teenager, raising... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former People by Douglas Smith, published by Macmillan, has won the inaugural £5,000... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bird Street Books has agreed with Ingram to manage the sales and distribution of their print, ebook, and audiobook titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As publishers migrate beyond the first phase of the ebook revolution, the IDPF's Digital Book Conference on Wednesday will address ebooks on the web, tablets, phones and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon has unveiled a dedicated website for its Amazon Publishing platform, www.apub.com. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stuff is teaming up with the NZ Post Children Books Awards in an initiative to promote the importance of books and reading, and to inspire New Zealand's future writers and illustrators. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Some see Amazon's Kindle Worlds fan fiction publishing platform as a great marketing move, while others are wary of Amazon's ownership of ideas. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For the first time in a long time some optimism is returning to the publishing industry. Circulation numbers and revenues were decimated by the rise of the internet and while the future for print still looks shaky, the companies behind newspapers and ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The new title for the third instalment in the Bridget Jones Diary book series has been revealed. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hearst Magazines is the latest publisher to join the native ad gold rush, with new products that will let advertisers run their messages into editorial real estate and, if desired, incorporate edit-produced content. The five new units, now being ro ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In this week's PublishNews Brazil, we look at Brasilia's debate on future of digital publishing, FNLIJ's awards for kid's lit, and Brazil's turn as the focus of the Gothenburg Book Fair in 2014. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Massachusetts-based publisher Barefoot Books had previously cut ties with Barnes & Noble and Borders. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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