Storytel reported fourth quarter results, with streaming revenues of 605 MSEK, up from 503 MSEK in the fourth quarter 2020. For the full year, revenues were 2,251 MSEK, up 20 percent from 2020, in line with it forecast. Paying subscribers grew 22 percent, to 1.81 million for the year. For the Nordic segment, the average number of paying subscribers was 1,047,900 in the quarter, with streaming revenues of 459 MSEK. Non-Nordic streaming revenues were up 41 percent in the quarter to 146 MSEK. The average number of paying subscribers was 736,700, up 43 percent from the same quarter last year. […]
Obituary: Chuck Verrill
Literary agent Charles “Chuck” Verrill died on January 9 after a long illness. After working as an editor at Viking, Verrill joined Liz Darhansoff’s agency and became a partner in 1991. Verrill was best known as Stephen King’s longtime agent and editor. King wrote on Twitter, “It leaves a huge hole. I loved the guy.” Darhansoff & Verrill will continue to carry his name, and a memorial service will be held later this year. “We’ll so miss his wise counsel and sardonic wit,” Liz Darhansoff said in a statement.
People 1/7
Kristina Moore has joined UTA as an agent in the Media Rights division. She was media rights manager at Anonymous Content since January 2019, after working at The Wylie Agency.
Pietsch is Optimistic for 2022 in Letter to Authors, Agents
Following his roundup to staff, Hachette Book Group ceo Michael Pietsch wrote to authors and agents as well and said the company is “heading into 2022 with optimism and excitement.” He notes, “While 2021 had many challenges, it was a better year for our industry than 2020, as virtually all bookstores and other retailers were open all year, and we saw a resurgence of sales at chain and independent booksellers and gift stores.” Still, supply chain challenges meant “like all publishers we had periods when we were unable to reprint and restock books with our accustomed speed.” The company has […]
HBG Rounds Up 2021, Expects Some Continued Supply Chain Disruptions in 2022
In a letter on Monday, Hachette Book Group ceo Michael Pietsch welcomed staff back to work after the holidays and reviewed the company’s notable moments from 2021, including the acquisition of Workman, the hiring of Carrie Bloxson as vp of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the delay of returning to the office. Pietsch also mentioned the year’s “unprecedented disruptions to the global supply chain, to our domestic printing program, and to our own warehouse operations supply chain.” He notes, “These issues have eased up somewhat, but they were not fully resolved by the end of the peak holiday season. We […]
Clark Resigns from AALA Board
William Clark has resigned from the board of directors of the Association of American Literary Agents, in a disagreement over board election procedures. He served on the board since 2018, co-founding the DEI Committee and the charitable arm Literary Agents of Change (LAOC). In a letter to the board, he stated, “I cannot continue to serve in good conscience and fulfill my legal responsibilities as a board member when the board is unwilling to acknowledge and hold others to account for disregarding the same responsibilities.” Clark told PL, “The responsibilities I refer to are the three core legal responsibilities of […]