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 ]
Penguin Random House is offering enhanced two-day shipping for independent booksellers starting October 1 and running through March 1, 2022. The company is waiving the minimum-retail-value requirement for orders. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Schemes provide mentors and funding to help aspiring writers on low incomes enter market dominated by white celebritiesA programme that aims to tackle the lack of diversity in children’s books has been launched after its founder said the practice of richer authors paying for support to get... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-09-26 06:15:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Simon & Schuster's Publishing Prologue program, which launched this summer, is aimed at reaching and recruiting young people interested in publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Simon & Schuster has announced a new series of virtual author events, AuthorFest. The first event will feature Bob Woodward and Robert Costa of the 'Washington Post,' who will discuss their new book, 'Peril.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Nine publishers including Hachette, Penguin Random House Children's and Nosy Crow have launched a manifesto committing themselves to increased empathy-building strategies over the next three years. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-22 19:09:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In a Zoom chat with agents, Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle said that, following the approval of PRH's purchase of Simon & Schuster, editors at the two houses will be able to bid for the same book—even if they are the only publishers interested in the title. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Launched a year ago in a collaboration between Penguin Random House and The Runnymede Trust, Lit in Colour seeks to make the books taught in classrooms more representative of modern life in Britain Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-17 18:08:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this
French conglomerate Vivendi appears headed to win control of Lagardère, owner of Hachette Livre. Vivendi already owns the French publisher Editis, and has been looking to increase its presence in book publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Booming audiobook sales and strong performances in some of its largest markets boosted profits up 55.1% at Penguin Random House in the first six months of 2021. Revenue rose 10.9%, to €1.80 billion. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Penguin Random House US has paid tribute to 36-year-old vice-president Erika Seyfried, who died over the weekend. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-30 18:31:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Penguin Random House surprised booksellers yesterday with the announcement that Amanda Gorman's forthcoming volume 'Call Us What We Carry' would be double the anticipated length, and that the price will be raised by $5. PRH said it will “honor the original price for all customers who pre-ordered... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Penguin Random House will require staff to wear masks “at all times and in all areas, including inside offices” in the US, but the firm's UK employees will follow a different policy. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-25 05:32:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Between CEO Elon Musk's often erratic antics, strident competition from existing industry titans, and a public that is still not fully sold on the idea of traveling via electrical charge, Tesla's road to prominence has not been a smooth one. But facing a federal investigation into its driver... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2021-08-21 15:00:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The ISNI International Agency is having a group of advisers from sectors including book publishing and rights review its treatment of gender. The post Studying Gender Representation and the Contemporary ISNI Identifier appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-19 00:32:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Simon & Schuster has bagged Peril, the "spell-binding" analysis of the transition from President Trump to Biden by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-16 22:33:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The country music superstar has teamed up with the novelist James Patterson to write Run, Rose, Run, which will be published in MarchFirst globally successful entertainer, then heroic sponsor of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine, and now novelist … Dolly Parton seems determined to prove that there... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-08-11 16:27:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Marysue Rucci, v-p and editor-in-chief at Simon & Schuster, will join Scribner as v-p, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the newly formed Marysue Rucci Books imprint on September 7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Strong sales of adult books and another big gain in its international operations led to a “robust, healthy” second quarter at Simon & Schuster, company CEO Jonathan Karp told 'PW.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Authors Guild's virtual panel "Centering Black Voices: Short-Term Progress or Sustainable Change?," held on July 27, offered a wide-ranging examination of the history and potential of the book industry’s continuing struggle to address diversity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Penguin Random House announced this morning that the upcoming collection of poetry by Amanda Gorman is now titled 'Call Us What We Carry.' It will be released on December 7, and will feature new works as well as her inauguration poem, 'The Hill We Climb.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this