ViacomCBS reported third quarter sales on Friday, with publisher Simon & Schuster reporting what looks to be their biggest-ever third quarter topline: Sales of $279 million were up 29 percent from $217 million a year ago. (The previous best third quarter sales mark looks to have been two years ago, the last time they published Bob Woodward, when sales were $240 million.) Earnings were solid but only gained 5 percent, due to “higher author expenses and costs associated with the mix of titles” (including printing and royalties for all those extra sales). OIBDA was $58 million, compared to $55 million […]
Archives for November 2020
Lagardere Denies French Media Reports that Company Will Sell International Publishers to Vivendi
During yesterday’s presentation of third quarter results, Arnaud Lagardère denied rumors circulating in French media that he had been negotiating the sale of Hachette’s international business to Vivendi. “There are no negotiations on any disposal of the group; no negotiations on any change of limited partnership currently,” said Mr. Lagardere, then added, “Obviously, we’re having some discussions with all the shareholders because it is good governance.” But according to French station BMF-TV, and consistent with speculation that we have covered for a while now, Mr. Lagardere, and investors Bernard Arnault of LVMH and Vincent Bollore of Vivendi have been in […]
Kirkus Prize Winners Announced
The winners of the 2020 Kirkus Prize were announced Thursday night at a virtual ceremony hosted from the Austin Central Library. Raven Leilani‘s Luster (FSG) won for fiction. (The book was featured in our Buzz Books 2020 Spring/Summer sampler.) Mychal Denzel Smith‘s Stakes Is High: Life After the American Dream (Bold Type Books) took nonfiction. The award for Young Readers’ Literature went to I Am Every Good Thing, by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James (Nancy Paulsen Books).
Harper Rebounds As Well with Good First Quarter
News Corp. reported earnings for their fiscal first quarter, ending September 30, on Thursday afternoon, with publisher HarperCollins showing growth after five straight quarters of sales declines. Sales of $458 million were up 13 percent versus $405 million a year ago. ($4 million of the gain was due to currency exchange.) EBITDA was back to the level from two years ago, at $71 million, up from $49 million a year ago. News Corp. said the publishers’ “strong results reflected the importance of savvy commissioning, combined with sensible cost control.” The growth was attributed to new releases from the general books […]
December’s Indie Next
The ABA announced its Indie Next list for December 2020. The list includes Denise Williams’s How to Fail at Flirting, which was excerpted in our 2020 Buzz Books Romance sampler, available for free download. The full Indie Next list: Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, by Katherine May A Wealth of Pigeons: A Cartoon Collection by Steve Martin, Harry Bliss (Illus.) The Burning God (The Poppy War #3), by R.F. Kuang Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Novel, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany: A Novel, by Lori Nelson Spielman Big Girl, Small Town: A […]
Lagardere Publishing Sales Up 6 Percent in Q3
Lagardere reported third quarter results, with publishing sales of €704 million, up from €663 million a year ago. That includes €12 million in sales from acquisitions, and a negative foreign exchange impact of €(11) million. “The sharp rebound in Lagardère Publishing sales that had been observed in June 2020 as lockdown measures were eased continued throughout the third quarter, albeit at a slightly more moderate pace,” said the release. Sales were up 21 percent in June — then up 4 percent in July and August, and up 10 percent in September. Even with the continuing rebound, however, publishing sales are […]