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 ]
Simon & Schuster has scooped two more "brilliant" YA novels from Adam Silvera, including a new book set in the same universe as his viral TikTok phenomenon They Both Die at The End (S&S). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-30 18:53:33 UTC ]
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Little, Brown has appointed Matthew Crossey from Penguin Random House as head of lifestyle non-fiction campaigns. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-22 00:37:51 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House worldwide chief executive Markus Dohle says he is "optimistic" about the future of the publishing industry, claiming "it's the best time in this business since Gutenberg invented the printing press". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-20 11:07:03 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House chief Markus Dohle has said the publisher is sceptical of streaming platforms as a viable method to distribute audiobooks, following recent buyouts by audio firms. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-19 18:47:42 UTC ]
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'Never give people what they want, or they'll hate you for it,' said Lotringer, founder of the influential publisher Semiotext(e), who died last week. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-11-18 14:30:04 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House Children’s has scooped Baby Love, Jacqueline Wilson's "moving" YA novel about teen pregnancy, family trouble and unlikely friendships. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-18 08:07:12 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House (PRH) is re-recording all 40 audiobooks from Sir Terry Pratchett’s bestselling Discworld series, with an all-star cast of acting talent including Bill Nighy, Andy Serkis and Sian Clifford. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-16 06:33:33 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House Children's is to launch a programme of commemorative publishing next year, in celebration of the 120th anniversary of Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-11 17:06:39 UTC ]
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Bethan Jones has been promoted to senior commissioning editor in adult fiction at Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-09 19:53:41 UTC ]
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At a time when American book publishing is exploring its place in the nation's political fray, the controversial '1619 Project' is coming out as a book. The post In the United States: ‘The 1619 Project’ Books Arrive Amid Heated Debate appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-09 13:43:48 UTC ]
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Last month, Penguin Random House released their disability pay gap report along with statistics for sexual orientation and socio-economic background. Whilst the publication of the report was positive, with PRH being the first publishing house to include disability in their reporting, the pay gap... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-06 09:01:13 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House (PRH) is launching a new positive action traineeship to offer talented people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds the opportunity to develop the skills and expertise required for a role as a commissioning editor. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-06 01:30:04 UTC ]
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The Authors Guild likes what it sees in the federal antitrust suit aiming to block the $2 billion merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-11-05 22:15:11 UTC ]
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I’ve recently been enjoying season two of the HBO Max series Love Life. I enjoyed season one because it felt like a combination of an extended rom-com and listening to someone talk about their first dates, two genres I enjoy. Season two is even better, because it stars William Jackson Harper... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-11-05 19:27:36 UTC ]
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Despite working in something of a state of limbo caused by its pending purchase by Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster had a solid first half of 2021, and the good results carried into the third quarter, with sales rising 15% and profits jumping 66%. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Paul Bogaards, one of the industry's more outspoken personalities, who helped promote many of Knopf’s best known and most successful authors, will retire at the end of the year after 32 years at the Penguin Random House imprint. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Biden administration’s rejection of the proposed $2.18 billion publishing merger reflects a changing atmosphere in Washington toward consolidation. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2021-11-02 21:41:37 UTC ]
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The Justice Department is suing to block a $2.2 billion book publishing deal that would have reshaped the industry Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2021-11-02 21:39:48 UTC ]
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The Department of Justice sues to block the acquisition of Simon and Schuster from Penguin Random House. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-11-02 16:56:25 UTC ]
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Some tech analysts are a bit baffled by the move and, subsequently, the DOJ’s priorities. The Justice Department on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against publisher Penguin Random House that seeks to block its proposed merger with rival Simon & Schuster. It’s one of the Biden administration’s... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2021-11-02 14:35:22 UTC ]
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