Swedish audiobook subscription service Storytel announced earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, with net sales of SEK609 million ($70.6 million), up from SEK491 million in last year’s period. Streaming sales were SEK490 million, up from SEK 399 million, or 23 percent. The company averaged 1.36 million paying subscribers in the quarter, up 34 percent from 1.014 million. Both streaming sales and subscribers exceeded the company’s forecasts for the quarter. The company also announced positive EBITDA for the first ime, of SEK7 million, but cautions that it was due to an accounting change and won’t be a trend: “since […]
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).
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 […]
People, Etc.
Carla Valadez is serving as Coffee House Press’s interim managing director, following the departure of Chris Fischbach. Mollie Reid has been promoted to associate publicist at Penguin Press. At Bertelsmann, cfo Bernd Hirsch “is leaving the company at his own request to pursue new professional challenges.” CEO of the Arvato Financial Solutions division Rolf Hellermann will take over as cfo January 1 and will join the executive board. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds will serve as host the National Book Awards on November 18. Bookselling Friends and supporters of Talking Leaves bookstore were “worried about losing a […]