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 ]
Paramount is likely to seek a new home for the publisher after it terminated the sales agreement with Penguin Random House. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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After a judge blocked the sale of Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House, S&S parent company Paramount pulls its sale offer and declines to appeal. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-11-21 22:50:02 UTC ]
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Penguin owner Bertelsmann will not appeal US judge’s ruling that merger would be illegal because it would hit authors’ payPenguin Random House, the world’s largest book publisher, and rival Simon & Schuster have scrapped a $2.2bn deal to merge, Penguin’s owner said in a statement on... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-21 22:41:38 UTC ]
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S&S has decided not to extend the deal's deadline, which prevents PRH from appealing the court's decision to block the merger. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-11-21 14:58:02 UTC ]
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With the purchase agreement between Paramount and Penguin Random House set to expire, reports from multiple media sources say that Simon & Schuster's parent company will let the deadline lapse, thereby killing the deal. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House’s agreement to buy Simon & Schuster is set to fall through. Simon & Schuster’s parent company decided not to extend it after a judge blocked the purchase. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-11-21 02:56:51 UTC ]
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Instructions for using the online spreadsheet that accompanies our Book Publishing Startups in the U.S. 2022 report. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-18 05:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism, out next year, will argue the world needs to ‘recognise that economic rights are human rights’Former presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders is to publish a book outlining “a vision of what would be possible if the political revolution took place”.It’s OK to Be... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-17 14:00:36 UTC ]
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The 11th iteration of University Press Week highlights 'pressing social conversations' and 'vital scholarship,' among other things. The post University Press Week: A Total 158 Campus Publishing Companies appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-14 20:15:56 UTC ]
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On November 7, Judge Florence Pan released her memorandum opinion blocking Penguin Random House from acquiring rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster. In the final analysis, after a year of legal wrangling and a three week trial, it wasn’t a close case for her at all. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The online city guide and dining resource is partnering with Abrams on an Eater-branded series of cookbooks and city guides, which will release starting next year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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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... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-04 18:25:28 UTC ]
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The uncertainty comes at a time when publishing is facing slumping sales after a pandemic boom, and fears of recession. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-11-01 22:14:42 UTC ]
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A Federal Court has blocked Penguin Random House's acquisition of one of its main rivals, Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-11-01 16:06:02 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle took the stage on Tuesday morning at the Sharjah International Book Fair and said he is "super disappointed" with the court ruling blocking PRH's proposed acquisition of S&S, calling the decision "utterly wrong." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In the United States, Judge Pan rules against the merger of trade book publishers Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. The post Court Blocks PRH-Simon & Schuster Acquisition appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-01 02:36:58 UTC ]
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Biden administration receives a clear victory, with the judge ruling the blockbuster merger would diminish competition in book publishing. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-11-01 00:51:06 UTC ]
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Justice department argued the melding of the publishing house with Simon & Schuster would harm competition and authors’ payA US judge has blocked the $2.2bn planned merger of Penguin Random House, the world’s largest book publisher, with rival Simon & Schuster.Judge Florence Pan of the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-01 00:30:18 UTC ]
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Our annual celebration of the rising stars of book publishing features profiles of 36 honorees and five finalists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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More than 250 literary figures rail against acquisition by Penguin Random House of book by conservative US supreme court justiceMore than 250 figures from the US literary world have signed an open letter protesting the acquisition by Penguin Random House of a book by the conservative supreme... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-10-27 06:00:22 UTC ]
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