The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given McGraw-Hill and Cengage five working days to address concerns that their planned merger will adversely affect the quality and price of textbooks available to their students. If they fail to do so, the CMA will move to an “in-depth” Phase II investigation, which could delay the merger further still. The two companies have already moved their expectations for completion of a deal from March to August, due to a slower-than-expected regulatory review in the United States. The Australian competition agency’s initial finding is also due this week. In its first […]
Archives for March 2020
People, Etc.
At Abrams, Rebecca Kaplan has been promoted to editor-in-chief; Jamison Stoltz to editorial director, Abrams Press; Monica Shah to executive director, special markets & national accounts; Nadine Sferratore to associate director, special sales; Wayne Gurreri to senior manager, special sales; and Shelby Ozer to sales coordinator, special sales. Kay Makanju has joined as trade sales manager specializing in the educational market. Yulia Borodyanskaya has been promoted to vice president, subsidiary rights and export sales. Talia Behrend-Wilcox joins a subsidiary rights manager. Hilary Claggett has joined Georgetown University Press as senior acquisitions editor, global business, a new list for the publisher. She was previously senior editor, […]
#Dignidadliteraria and Presente.org Respond to Macmillan Progress Report
Latinx activist organizations #Dignidadliteraria and Presente.org responded to Macmillan’s 30-day progress report about Latinx representation in publishing after a followup meeting with the publisher on Tuesday afternoon. Authors Myriam Gurba, Roberto Lovato, David Bowles, and Matt Nelson, who all originally met with Macmillan leadership on February 3 to discuss the American Dirt controversy, wrote in a press release, “We’re cautiously optimistic…. While in-line with what the Latinx community has demanded and a solid step in the right direction, Macmillan USA’s 30-day progress report is vague in many areas.” The release continues, “During the meeting, we expressed our interest in seeing specific […]
AAP Trade Publishers Had Flat Sales for 2019
The AAP reported December 2019 sales and released their full totals for 2019 sales, along with final numbers for 2018. Though the historical baseline was revised lower for much of the year for adult sales, the final totals wind up matching the report from a year ago almost exactly. The organization’s pool of reporting publishers recorded 2019 trade sales that were almost exactly flat, registering $7.249 billion in 2019, versus $7.245 billion in 2018. (For comparison, AAP-reported trade sales were $6.926 billion in 2017, and $7.006 billion in 2016.) Adult sales fell $139 million in 2019, down 1.9 percent, while […]
People, Etc.
At Abrams Children’s Books, Hallie Patterson has been promoted to director of publicity and Brooke Shearouse to publicity manager. In the UK, John Murray publisher Mark Richards and Profile Books commercial director Diana Broccardo have founded Swift Press. They expect to publish 6 to 8 titles in 2021. The principal investors are Geoffrey Faber Holdings and Set Copyrights, co-owners of Faber & Faber. It’s the first time they have invested in another publisher. Swift will join the Independent Alliance for sales. Duke University press editorial director since 2005 Ken Wissoker is staying with the house, now as senior executive editor, […]
McGraw-Hill Reports Slower Sales Decline in 2019
McGraw-Hill reported Q4 earnings and its annual report for 2019, with full-year revenue of $1.571 billion, down from $1.597 billion in 2018. Though the decline moderated this year, it marks the sixth year of falling sales for the company. In 2017, sales had been $1.719 billion. This will be the last time the company’s fiscal year ends December 31. They are revising their fiscal year to end March 31, to “better align with seasonal industry cycles.” After the close of the next quarter, they will issue a revised annual report covering the new fiscal year. They have also changed for […]