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 ]
Fundraiser for retailers facing hardship during the coronavirus pandemic reveals that benefactor is internet giant widely blamed for trade’s declineAmazon, the internet retail giant vilified for years as public enemy No 1 to booksellers, has been revealed as the surprise mystery benefactor that... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-04-23 11:37:33 UTC ]
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The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted all aspects of book publishing, from putting pressure on sales channels to changing the kinds of books consumers want. A number of independent publishers have pivoted to meet the demand for books in newly-popular categories and formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Former First Lady Michelle Obama will be reading children's books in a weekly series of videos for Penguin Random House and PBS Kids through May 11. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-04-17 20:08:16 UTC ]
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Trade associations and other organizations have stepped up to provide information and resources to help those in the book publishing industry navigate the crisis. Below is an overview of what a number of groups are doing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This is Personal Space: The Memoir Show, with Sari Botton. On this episode, Botton talks to Hadley Freeman about her fourth book, House of Glass: The Story and Secrets of a Twentieth-Century Jewish Family, a memoir and family Holocaust history published by Simon & Schuster. Botton and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-09 17:00:34 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House UK is the latest U.K. publisher to take cost out of the business in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House UK has revealed it is furloughing "some" of its staff across the business, extending to staffers in its London office. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-06 23:18:38 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Mexico has shifted to teleworking and added new digital workflows, and is offering online classes prioritizing the sales of e-books, much for the first time. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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For what seems like since time immemorial, Penguin Random House Children's has been by far the biggest beast in British kids' publishing. That might have changed this morning with HarperCollins' announcement that it will acquire Egmont UK, plus Egmont’s Polish and German children’s book... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-02 02:11:04 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster has launched a company-wide effort to support the newly established independent bookseller–focused online bookstore Bookshop.org and its affiliate network of independent booksellers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
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For publishing companies to survive a global crisis like the one we're in, Rich Antoniello's formula is 'brand, plus brains, plus balance sheet." He would know, having stewarded Complex through the 2008 financial crisis as CEO, the role he still holds now. But compared to that, the downturn... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2020-03-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Rachel Denwood, who spent a decade helping to build HarperCollins Children’s Books into a big-brand kids’ giant, is looking to build a broader base of hits in her new role at Simon & Schuster Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-27 05:21:13 UTC ]
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Shannon Marchese, formerly executive editor at Penguin Random House imprints Waterbrook & Multnomah and Convergent, has been hired as v-p, publisher of Tommy Nelson, Thomas Nelson’s children’s imprint. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House UK c.e.o. Tom Weldon says the company is actively seeking ways of helping struggling booksellers during the coronavirus lockdown. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-26 21:42:26 UTC ]
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BISG surveys the impact on publishing of the COVID-19 emergency, and Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins withdraw from BookExpo. The post BookExodus: More Big Five Withdrawals, and BISG Opens a COVID-19 Survey appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-03-26 14:30:42 UTC ]
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A crowdfunder set up by the trade to raise money for booksellers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has increased its target to £100,000 after Penguin Random House and the Booksellers Association pledged support. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-25 19:31:47 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster has become the third Big Five publisher to say it will not attend this year's BookExpo and BookCon events set for New York City July 22-26. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Revenue at Penguin Random House rose to €3.64 billion last year and earnings increased to €561 million. CEO Markus Dohle noted that despite the record year, the spread of the coronavirus means that the publisher will "have to endure some impact" to its business this year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House increased both its revenues and profits in 2019, according to parent company Bertelsmann, which said it would continue to expand the publisher’s businesses including through acquisition. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-23 21:48:47 UTC ]
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A day after Penguin Random House announced it had withdrawn from the 2020 BookExpo and BookCon, the shows' organizers have moved the dates from May to July. The post BookExpo Moves to July 22 to 26 in New York City: Coronavirus Update appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-03-19 23:36:11 UTC ]
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