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 ]
The Big Five publishers have a history of both publishing and distributing books by people who not only hold abhorrent beliefs, but who wield those beliefs to destroy the rights of people across the world—so it’s no surprise that Sentinel, the conservative Penguin Random House imprint, is... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-25 14:43:59 UTC ]
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The best YA book deals of the day, sponsored by Penguin Random House Audio: browse today where you can discover books that play!`Penguin Random House... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-10-22 10:30:00 UTC ]
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Publishers have faced criticism for producing books considered ‘an easy sell’ Chef Jamie Oliver and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner have become the latest celebrities to announce new children’s books, with experts saying there is no sign the celebrity-authored children’s book trend will... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-10-21 10:05:05 UTC ]
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Literary Hub is pleased to reveal the cover for Jai Chakrabarti’s A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness, forthcoming from Penguin Random House in February 2023. The book, comprised of 14 short stories, details what family means today across cultures, continents, and faith. The title story,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-12 15:00:59 UTC ]
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“Sorry to interrupt, what does TK mean?” I hear a puzzled voice ask the presenter of the video call I’m in. Having spent the past decade working in book publishing I almost unmute myself to shout out the answer, but as I’m brand new to the company I wait for the presenter to politely reply. […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-29 08:54:20 UTC ]
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Three graduates of the Denver Publishing Institute described their journey in landing jobs in book publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Young, a former v-p and executive editor at Grand Central, says the new standalone imprint will integrate philanthropy into the book publishing business. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The United States Senate voted on Tuesday to elevate the judge overseeing the lawsuit that will decide the fate of the proposed merger of Penguin Random House with Simon & Schuster to the influential U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, filling the seat that belonged... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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TikTok users can now link their favorite books from Penguin Random House within their videos following a partnership between the video creation platform and the publisher. Users in the U.K. and U.S. can click "Add Link" and select "Book" prior to posting their video, at which point any Penguin... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2022-09-20 19:30:00 UTC ]
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Book piracy in France has taken a hit, with court action led by the SNE and 12 publishing companies against 'Z-Library.' The post French Publishers Cheer a Court’s Order to Block a Book Piracy Site appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-19 20:26:31 UTC ]
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We all have those thoughts, the ones that come to us in the small hours of the night. Who am I? Why are we here? What if my cellphone ran on vacuum tubes instead? Randall Munroe has the answer to, well, only one of those questions, but also the answers to a whole bunch of others collected... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-09-18 15:00:37 UTC ]
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Women-operated and founded podcast network Lemonada Media is launching a book club in partnership with publishing company Penguin Random House. Starting September, the Lemonada Book Club will select recent or upcoming fiction and nonfiction book releases under PRH--aligned with topics related to... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2022-08-31 12:13:11 UTC ]
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High inflation and supply chain challenges combined to drop earnings at Penguin Random House 20.7% in the first half of 2022 compared to a year ago. Revenue rose 6.2%, to €1.92 billion, but even there the news was disappointing with parent company Bertelsmann noting that excluding the favorable... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Every few months, I receive an email or phone call from someone who claims to work for a literary agency or publishing entity. In the lengthy messages variegated with bold-faced sentences, or voicemails in which the speaker mispronounces my maiden name, I’m promised six-figure book deals with... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-22 08:52:55 UTC ]
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Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sells an autobiography to Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books takes a memoir by ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Laura Z. Hobson’s “Gentleman’s Agreement” was so popular that Simon & Schuster could barely keep up with demand. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-08-18 14:41:29 UTC ]
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The proposed merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster could lead to fewer voices — including marginalized voices — being published. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-08-18 10:09:48 UTC ]
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Over the past two weeks, writers and publishing professionals have been riveted by coverage of the trial in which the U.S. Department of Justice is attempting to block Penguin Random House’s purchase of Big Five rival Simon & Schuster. As a member of the independent book publishing... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-18 08:54:18 UTC ]
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A survey released by the Association of American Literary Agents has found that 87% of respondents oppose the acquisition of Simon & Schuster by Penguin Random House, citing, among their chief concerns, that the deal would result in “less competition” for titles and “lower advances.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Cookbook fans ‘heartbroken’ after John Clark’s derogatory outburst on social mediaThe cookbook author known as the Meal Prep King will no longer be published by Penguin Random House after he posted a misogynistic video on social media.John Clark, whose book The Meal Prep King Plan was a Sunday... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-08-16 17:55:17 UTC ]
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