The Guardian view on the book publishing industry: no one size fits all | Editorial

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 ]

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After his death, John McCain's last book climbs bestseller lists

John McCain's book “The Restless Wave” appeared on bestseller lists following the Arizona senator's death on Saturday. The book, which was released in May by Simon & Schuster, was ranked No. 2 on Amazon's list of bestselling books, and No. 3 on the Barnes & Noble website as of Monday... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S hits back at Trump lawyers' 'hollow' threats to sue

Simon & Schuster has hit back at legal threats from Donald Trump over his former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman's book, telling the American president's lawyers "at base, your letter is nothing more than an obvious attempt to silence legitimate criticism of the president". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trump, Fighting Omarosa, Fixes His Gaze on S&S

Months after President Donald Trump's lawyers slapped Macmillan with a cease-and-desist letter in advance of the publication of Michael Wolff's 'Fire and Fury,' the president has done the same to Simon & Schuster and Omarosa Manigault Newman's 'Unhinged.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trump Campaign Tries to Stop Omarosa Manigault Newman Book: Simon & Schuster Says No Way

In an echo of the efforts the Trump White House made in January to block Macmillan's 'Fire and Fury,' Simon & Schuster's counsel has rebuffed a Trump campaign attempt to stop 'Unhinged,' calling the Trump effort 'hollow legal threats.' The post Trump Campaign Tries to Stop Omarosa Manigault... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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White leaves Waterstones for Simon & Schuster

Chris White is to leave his position as Waterstones’ fiction buyer after 14 years to move into publishing as a senior commissioning editor for Simon & Schuster imprint Scribner. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S sees second quarter profit and revenue rises

Simon & Schuster's revenue and operating income rose in the second quarter, helped by lower production costs. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reidy supports CBS head Moonves following sexual misconduct allegations

Simon & Schuster US president and c.e.o. Carolyn Reidy has spoken out in support of CBS head Leslie Moonves, following multiple allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Richard and Judy recommend 200th novel with W H Smith

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[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Germany’s De Gruyter Buys Düsseldorf; S&S Distributes Skyhorse

The 10-year-old Düsseldorf University Press is acquired by Berlin's De Gruyter, while a US independent publisher of Mo Yan and Octavio Paz is to be distributed by Simon & Schuster.  The post Industry Notes: Germany’s De Gruyter Buys Düsseldorf; S&S Distributes Skyhorse appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Business management tools: A how-to guide for media companies

Today’s consumers expect access to content, whenever and however they want, putting media and publishing companies under extreme pressure to meet this demand cost-effectively. Faced with diminishing revenues from traditional advertising and subscriptions they must find new ways to drive revenue... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Simon & Schuster’s New Book Club; GraphicAudio Plans Audiobook Tie-Ins

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Remembering Book Publisher Peter Mayer

Peter Mayer, former Penguin CEO and publisher of Overlook Press, died on May 11, 2018. He will be remembered around the world for his zeal for book publishing and literature. The post Remembering Book Publisher Peter Mayer appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Q&A: Former Times critic Robert Hilburn on writing about Paul Simon and the struggle to protect art

Pop music writer Randy Lewis and pop music critic Robert Hilburn worked together at The Times for a quarter-century before Hilburn retired in 2006. They sat down recently to talk about Hilburn’s latest book, “Paul Simon — The Life,” to be published by Simon & Schuster on Tuesday, just ahead... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Has Earnings Gain in Q1

A 43% increase in digital audio sales in the first quarter of 2018 helped lift earnings 7% at Simon & Schuster over the first period in 2017. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo Announces CEO Panel and Copyright Roundtable

BookExpo announced two panels that will be held at its forthcoming trade show featuring a number of industry CEOs and leaders, including the top executives at Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comey book leaks ahead of publication

Former FBI director James Comey likens Donald Trump to a mafia boss and his presidency to a "forest fire" in his new book publishing next week. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Russo Retires from S&S

Seth Russo, v-p and director of international sales at Simon & Schuster, will retire from the publisher. His retirement takes effect on April 20 at which point Colin Shields will step into Russo's role. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judith Curr joins HarperCollins US

Judith Curr, formerly president and publisher of Simon & Schuster's Atria Publishing Group, is joining HarperCollins as president and publisher of HarperOne, Amistad, and Rayo. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Shuts Crimson Romance

The digital imprint, acquired as part of Simon & Schuster’s purchase of Adams Media in 2016, is being closed, the publisher said, due to “changing consumer reading habits." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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