Gruner + Jahr said in a statement Friday that, contrary to earlier indications from August, Bertelsmann will not buy up the remaining 25.1 percent in the company not already under its control. “In our intensive and constructive talks with Bertelsmann, we came to the conclusion that the challenges ahead for G&J can best be mastered together,” Jahr managing director Winfried Steeger, managing director of Jahr Holding said in the statement obtained by Bloomberg. Bertelsmann ceo Thomas Rabe added: “Bertelsmann will continue its more than 40 year long, successful relationship with the Jahr family. We are in a strong position to […]
Archives for October 2012
Goldman Helps to Break Greg Smith Embargo; Is “Relieved,” But Also Works Hard to Discredit Author
The release of Greg Smith’s book WHY I LEFT GOLDMAN SACHS is making for some fascinating between the lines reading. On Monday, the NYT found it so compelling they ran a piece on just the first chapter, offered online as a pre-publication excerpt. Today, the front page of business section declares in a head that the “book offers few details on Goldman” (begging the question why that makes it front of the section news). We’re sure the paper’s verdict was not influenced at all by the fact that paper got what they hoped was a scoop on the embargo because […]
People, Etc.
Shire Publications’ recently-hired US sales and marketing director Robert Kempe died on Tuesday from complications arising from cancer (just diagnosed in August). The publisher says, “Though Robert joined the company only months ago, his contribution to and impact upon it were incalculable. Swiftly assuming control of Shire in the North American market, he made it immediately and abundantly clear that we had found someone who would not only fulfil our expectations and requirements for the role but exceed them in every regard.” At Harlequin, Miranda Indrigo has taken on the new role of author liaison, concierge services. She was most recently […]
Bookselling: Random House Brings Back Holiday Shipping Offer
Starting November 1, Random House is relaunching their two-day transit program for independent booksellers for the holiday season for their entire list. Orders received by 3 PM ship out of their warehouse “no later than the following business day.” Director of account marketing Ruth Liebmann notes, “Faster replenishment via our 2-day transit program means fewer lost sales and more robust displays.” The program runs through March 1, 2013.
Amazon, From New York Publishing to Potential Brazilian Acquisition
We know how you can be, and some of you may be enjoying the WSJ’s piece “Amazon Struggles to Crack Publishing” piece a little too much this morning. The focus of the article is that print sales for Amazon’s recently launched New York-based trade imprint are low–because most other outlets are not stocking the company’s titles. (Nielsen BookScan shows sales of approximately 7,000 hardcover copies of Penny Marshall’s My Mother Was Nuts, which includes print sales through Amazon.com itself. But there is no data available on ebook sales.) Tim Ferriss, who approached Amazon directly to sell them his next book […]
People
Hodder & Stoughton announced a reorganization that creates two divisions within the group, “designed to strengthen the appeal and focus of its publishing and to take advantage of structural changes in the publishing industry.” The new division, called John Murray Press, will comprise John Murray, Hodder Faith, Consumer Learning, Two Roads and Saltyard Books–to be run by former Hodder & Stoughton publisher Nick Davies, who is rejoining the company in January as managing director from his current post as Canongate publisher. The Hodder & Stoughton division, comprising Hodder & Stoughton general fiction and non-fiction, Coronet and Sceptre, will have Carolyn Mays […]