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 ]
Annabel Steadman’s fantasy series Skandar and the Unicorn Thief has won a seven-figure book contract, with film rights also sold to Sony PicturesA 28-year-old first-time author from Canterbury has landed what is believed to be the world’s largest ever book advance for a debut children’s writer,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-09-16 13:34:54 UTC ]
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As part of an industry-wide effort to reckon with issues of diversity in trade book publishing, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster have each named new high-ranking staffers to address issues of diversity at their companies. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Two Big Five US publishing houses independently announce new directorial appointments focused on workplace diversity and inclusion. The post In New York, Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins Announce Diversity Roles appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-09-15 23:40:06 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster will publish home body, the third collection of poetry and illustrations from Rupi Kaur. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-14 19:44:33 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster is to publish a political memoir by Jess Phillips, secured in a two book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-11 10:32:36 UTC ]
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An internal report on workforce demographics at Penguin Random House shows that 78% of PRH non-warehouse employees are white. In addressing the report, PRH U.S. CEO Madeline McIntosh said the company is determined to make its workforce "reflect the demographics of American society.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Today, the National Book Foundation announced extraordinary news for an extraordinary prize: The late president and chief executive of Simon & Schuster, Carolyn Reidy, will be the recipient of its Literarian Award at the 2020 National Book Awards. The lifetime achievement award, which honors... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-08 16:43:46 UTC ]
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Carolyn Reidy, the late president and chief executive of Simon & Schuster, will receive the Literarian Award, the National Book Foundation announced today. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-09-08 14:14:51 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster will publish the pontiff's vision of a better future post-pandemic December 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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ViacomCBS is expected to reactivate the sale process for Simon & Schuster this month, and Bertelsmann's chief says he's interested. The post Report: Germany’s Bertelsmann Interested in Buying Simon & Schuster appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-09-02 18:34:05 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster is to publish Let Us Dream from Pope Francis in December. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-02 17:32:34 UTC ]
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Global revenues at Penguin Random House fell slightly by 1.4% year on year in a "solid" six months to 30th June despite the impact of Covid-19, while parent company Bertelsmann saw group revenues tumble 8.9%. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-01 10:51:49 UTC ]
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PRH Grupo Editorial gets translation rights to English-language titles from Wattpad Book, a world Spanish exclusive. The post Spain’s Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial and Canada’s Wattpad Strike Rights Deal appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-08-28 01:10:03 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House Children's UK has acquired two new books from Instagram parenting star Daisy Upton, known to her 180,000 followers as "Five Minute Mum". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-26 05:40:56 UTC ]
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Beyond the hiring of diverse editors, four publishing insiders said in a conversation sponsored by the Aspen Institute that if the needs of BIPOC readers are to be met, the industry must bring more diversity throughout the book publishing ecosystem. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-08-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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If Amazon's market power over book publishing is left unchecked, competition in the industry will continue to diminish, the heads of the AAP, ABA, and Authors Guild wrote in a letter to the chairman of the House Antitrust Subcommittee. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-08-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Since the killing of George Floyd in late May, the book publishing industry, overwhelmingly white at every level, seems to have reached a period of reckoning about its own history of exclusionary hiring practices. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-08-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster has revealed details about what publisher Jonathan Karp is calling its most important book of the year: a new account by journalist Bob Woodward of Donald Trump’s presidency, titled Rage, which comes out Sept. 15. After ignoring interview requests for Woodward’s 2018 book... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-08-13 15:21:10 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster's dominance over the Trump exposé category is likely to be reaffirmed this September 15, when the publisher will release 'Rage,' the latest title by the Pulitzer Prize–winning 'Washington Post' reporter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-08-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster is releasing Rage, a second book on Donald Trump by journalist Bob Woodward that includes material from letters between the President and North Korea dictator Kim Jong-un. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-12 13:54:39 UTC ]
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