The AAP released their separate set of annual “estimates” — StatShot Annual — on Friday. As usual, the most important thing for us to cover here is to remind you that, in contrast to the AAP’s monthly reports, these “estimates” are the product of taking real data and then multiplying it to pretend to account for the parts of the publishing industry that never report their numbers. The methodology has never stood up to scrutiny or logic, so we find the estimates of little value. Which is a shame, because the data collected is much more detailed and granular than […]
Archives for June 2019
People, Etc.
Baker & Taylor president David Cully will retire at the end of August. Cully joined Baker & Taylor in 2008 and became president in 2017. CEO of parent company Follett Pat Connolly said in a statement, “Since I joined Follett, David has been a valued and trusted member of my executive team. I will miss his wise and pragmatic counsel, exemplary character and quick sense of humor. I know he will enjoy this next chapter in life, returning to teaching, reading even more voraciously and spending time with his family.” Amandeep (Aman) Kochar has been named executive vice president of […]
DOJ Sues to Block Quad-LSC Merger
The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in an Illinois District Court on June 20 to block the proposed merger of Quad and LSC Communications, the last two major US based book printers standing after several years of consolidation in a contracting print industry. The merger, says the filing, “threatens to increase prices, reduce quality, and limit availability of printed material that millions of Americans rely on to receive and disseminate information and ideas,” echoing concerns raised by many in publishing since the announcement of the planned merger in October. The Justice Department argues that the loss of the […]
People, Etc.
Natalie Church has joined Dutton and Plume as assistant marketing manager. She was previously at Knopf. Jenny Chen has been promoted to associate editor at Crooked Lane Books. Thomas Weaver will join MIT Press as senior acquisitions editor for art and architecture, starting in September. He previously worked as editor of ANY (Architecture New York) and at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. He succeeds Roger Conover, who held the position from 1977 until his recent retirement. In the UK, literary agent Rowan Lawton will join the Soho Agency (the merged Lucas Alexander Whitley and Factual Management) on July […]
People, Etc.
Roberto Torres is joining Harper Mexico as general manager. Torres was most recently with Macmillan Education, where he served for seven years as regional marketing director and sales director for Mexico. Honors Joy Harjo has been named the 23rd US Poet Laureate, succeeding Tracy K. Smith in the fall. Harjo will be the first Native American to hold the position. Acquisitions Rowman & Littlefield acquired Prometheus Books, the Amherst, NY publisher of popular science, critical thinking, philosophy, history books, and more. Trade titles published under the Prometheus Books imprint will become part of Globe Pequot, while titles published under the […]
Barnes & Noble Store Comps Down 2.3 Percent In Fourth Quarter
Barnes & Noble reported on June 19 what may be its last quarterly earnings statement in its waning days as a public company, and the numbers held few surprises. For the fourth quarter, sales were $755 million, down $31 million from a year ago, with same-store sales declining 2.3 percent. The net loss was $18.7 million, a slight improvement over a loss of $21 million last Q4. Consolidated EBITDA, which excludes one-time charges, was $4.6 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $6.7 million a year ago. For the year, sales were $3.553 billion, from $3.662 billion in 2018. Net […]