The year is off to a roaring start with 21 new works of fiction publishing this week, including Michael Farris Smith’s Gatsby prequel Nick, timed to publish just as the original enters the public domain. Ashley Audrain’s The Push and Robert Jones Jr.’s The Profits were both PL Fall/Winter Buzz Books selections, and both are highlight bookseller and book club picks this month: 21 new works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-january-5 Seven nonfiction titles https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-january-5 New children’s and YA titles publishing in January https://bookshop.org/lists/new-children-s-titles-publishing-in-january-2021
2020: The Year in Mergers and Finance
Befitting the pandemic year, 2020 recorded only modest merger activity, as most potential buyers focused on preserving liquidity over acquisitions. In the end, the year was as notable for what didn’t happen as what did. Cengage and McGraw Hill called off what would have been the year’s biggest merger after running into resistance from the Department of Justice and other regulators. (Both are left with significant debt to pay down.) Barnes & Noble Education spent all year busily not getting acquired: They explored “strategic” options for months and concluded that the company was doing fine on its own — which […]
New Books Publishing December 29
As we transition into 2021, this week’s new nonfiction offers a strong selection of new year, new you titles. In fiction, the year closes with a full house of mysteries and murders to quicken your pulse. Five new works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-december-29 Seven nonfiction titles https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-december-29
Legal: A Victory for Copyright Small Claims, DMCA News, and a Netflix Settlement
Bundled into the big appropriations bill that Congress just passed is the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act, which has had the support from many in publishing for a number of years. The act establishes a Copyright Claims Board within the U.S. Copyright Office, so that creators can fight copyright violations without needing to bear the high costs and considerable complexities of litigation. The board, comprising three three Copyright Claims Officers to be appointed by the Librarian of Congress, will hear claims of up to $15,000 per claim. The bill was first introduced in late 2017; now, if the […]
Struggling Barnes & Noble Education Gets $15 Million Investment from Sports Merchandiser
Barnes & Noble Education got a lift from news of a modest $15 million investment from sports team retailer Fanatics (and their brick-and-mortar subsidiary that sells hats and other merch, Lids). The investors will receive 2.3 million shares in BNED, bought at the far-above-market price of $6.50 a share. The parties intend to create a “long-term strategic omnichannel merchandising partnership” (the reliance on “omnichannel” to make it sound important is a warning on its own). While BNED has been touting their growing expertise in digital and ecommerce, now they proclaim that Fanatics is the key to “bring[ing] a best-of-breed retail […]
Scholastic Second Quarter Results Hit Again By Continued School Closures
Scholastic reported earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 ended November 30, with total sales of $406 million, down 32 percent from $597 million a year ago. The decline in operating income was even steeper, to $49 million, more than halved from $105 million last year. The trade division continued to perform very well, however: Sales were $126 million, up from $104 million, a 21 percent increase lead by new titles from Dave Pilkey and J.K. Rowling. But their big book fair business and, to a lesser extent, their books clubs, continue to be sidelined, with only a third […]