Australia’s publishing (and bookselling) business has remained protected by “parallel import restrictions” that have kept the country relatively de-Amazoned — but just as American antitrust law has been favoring low consumer prices over market consolidation, the Australian government is prioritizing lower prices for books over protecting the local publishing business. The Australian Government Productivity Commission just […]
Archives for April 2016
Corporate: Pearson Has Expected Q1 Decline, As CBS Considers Buyout of Redstone Shares
Pearson issued a first quarter “trading update” in connection with their annual meeting. As expected, results were weak, with overall sales down 6 percent, “in line with expectations.” They say Penguin Random House “had a solid first-quarter performance with a strong bestseller performance and net integration benefits partly offset by reduced demand for ebooks, following […]
People, Etc.
Diana Velasquez has been promoted to senior marketing manager for the Gallery Books Group imprints. At Simon & Schuster’s education and library marketing department, Candace Greene McManus has been promoted to senior marketing manager; Anthony Parisi moves up to marketing manager; and Christine Naulty has been promoted to associate marketing manager. Emily Murdock Baker has […]
Amazon Has Better-than-Expected Profit
Amazon reported first quarter sales on Thursday afternoon following the close of the market, with net income of $513 million (or $1.07 per share) that was almost double what analysts were expecting. The company’s shares are up close to 10 percent in early Friday trading as a result. Net sales rose 28 percent to $29.13 […]
Family Entertainment Network Relaunches As StoryArc; Frankfurt Adds Controlling Stake In IPR License; Readerlink Adds ANconnect Book Business
The Family Entertainment Network of web-based children’s games and other properties — including Poptropica, created by Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney, and Funbrain — has officially relaunched as StoryArc Media. The company was sold to Sandbox Partners last May by Pearson. Kinney has the title of chief creative officer under the new StoryArc banner, and […]
Following Bloomberg Investigation Amazon Promises Same Day Delivery for Roxbury, MA; Congressman Calls for FTC Inquiry
Amazon responded to criticism in the wake of Bloomberg’s extensive investigation showing that the rollout of their Prime Same-Day Delivery service has focused on areas where residents are primarily white, and overlooked neighborhoods. The company is correcting what Bloomberg had called “the most striking gap in Amazon’s same-day service,” which was “in Boston, where three ZIP codes encompassing the […]