Here is the updated look at our aggregation-in-process of the year’s very best books. With over 40 “votes” counted from a variety of highly selective lists, awards and more, the general consensus is taking shape, though both the fiction and nonfiction lists reflect a variety of books finding favor. Unlike in many recent years, there are no runaway favorites emerging — which leaves lots of worthy titles to recommend, gift and promote. (Asterisked titles were featured pre-publication in our Buzz Books collections.) The Very Best of the Best Books of 2021: Fiction 1. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois,* […]
AAP Sues to Block Maryland’s New Law on Library eBook Licensing
With Maryland’s precedent-breaking law requiring publishers to license ebooks to public libraries “on reasonable terms” set to be implemented at the beginning of 2022, the AAP has filed in the US District Court for Maryland. The association seeks, “A declaration that the Maryland Act is preempted by federal law and unconstitutional, and an injunction preventing its enforcement.” They allege four causes of action, including express and conflict preemption under the Copyright Act and the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, along with violations of the Commerce Clause, and the Due Process Clauses. While the AAP usually supports and organizes actions brought […]
Vivendi Moves Up Timetable and Will Launch Tender Offer to Acquire Lagardere
Though Vivendi was previously awaiting regulatory approval from the French government for their acquisition of Amber Capital’s 17.5 percent stake in Lagardere — originally expecting the deal to close by December 15 — the company has decided it does not need to wait any longer. “Recent analyses carried out by Vivendi have led the company to consider that this acquisition could take place now since, in accordance with applicable rules on the control of concentrations.” Vivendi says it will not exercise the voting rights attached to Amber shares “until the approvals required for the acquisition of the control of Lagardère […]
Bertelsmann’s RTL Will Launch Multimedia Streaming Service that Includes Audiobooks
Last month, Bertelsmann unveiled the first part of an ambitious digital multi-media subscription service in Germany from their giant broadcasting subsidiary, called RTL+. Starting with a rebranded version of their previous service streaming service, by the second quarter of next year the new multi-media subscription will combine “video, audio, magazine, and book publishing assets” from across Bertelsmann divisions. Bertelsmann ceo Thomas Rabe told FAZ, “Our idea is: one app, all media,” adding that, “There is no other offer like this in the world.” Their goal is 10 million subscriptions by 2026 in Germany and the Netherlands. RTL’s existing video streaming […]
Hachette UK’s Shelley Expects Supply Chain Challenges to Continue
Hachette UK CEO David Shelley told authors in his annual letter that supply chain challenges have been “the most extreme that I have seen in my 24 years in publishing” and he notes that “it is clear that these will be ongoing issues and that 2022 will be marked by them.” While some of their issues have been exacerbated by Brexit, other elements are shared by US publishers: “One of the issues our team have been grappling with is a worldwide shortage of paper. Due to unexpected surges in sales in all markets during Covid lockdowns, the world has gone […]
More Indications of A Strong Year, with Big Gains for Print Fiction
Further to Monday’s report on data from the AAP and NPD Bookscan suggesting the year’s strong book sales are likely to hold up through the end of the year, NPD Bookscan analyst Kristen McLean wrote in her November sales analysis, “The US Book market is pretty much locked in for a strong end of year.” While backlist has continued to drive sales all year, as it did in 2020, comprising over two-thirds of all unit sales, McLean noted, “Supply-chain issues did not affect November frontlist share. In fact, frontlist share gained one year-to-date share point, up from 31% last month.” […]