Audiobook company RBmedia has acquired John Verlag’s German-language audiobook catalog. The newly-acquired titles–described in a release as “predominantly nonfiction audiobooks in the politics, investigative journalism, business, biographies, and advice genres”–will be added to the RBmedia Verlag audio brand. As the company notes in the announcement, since 2021 RBmedia has acquired five European audiobook catalogs—Booka, ABOD, Hörbuch München, Éditions Thélème, and now John Verlag.
International News
UID Reorganization Results in Turpin Layoffs
The “managed exit” of Turpin Distribution from UK-distributor United Independent Distributors (which has been owned by Independent Publishers Group since last year) will result in layoffs, UID global ceo Joe Matthews told The Bookseller, though he didn’t give a number. Turpin has about 100 employees. Matthews said that UID would offer Turpin’s clients (which include Emerald and Liverpool University Press) distribution, sales, and marketing services through continuing UID companies Eurospan and Marston in order to “make the transition for Turpin publishers as convenient as possible.” “We developed a strategic plan that we have been executing all year and have now […]
Bertelsmann Sees Multiple Deals In Trouble
Bertelsmann’s recent international managers’ meeting focused on plans to invest from €5 billion to €7 billion euros across the company by 2025 — but as the FT underscores, right now the company’s ambition to acquire is facing multiple obstacles. Besides the Simon & Schuster acquisition, now in doubt pending the verdict of Judge Florence Pan, a plan to merge their French television business M6 with the larger TF1 was dropped in September after a hearing before the country’s competition authority, which had “significant problems.” The same month, customer services provider Marjorel — half owned by Bertlesmann — and call center […]
Storytel Expands Into France
Storytel is launching their audiobook subscription in France today, and has partnered with the country’s largest publishers — including Hachette Livre, Madrigall, Editis, and Actes Sud. Readers will be able to access more than 7,000 titles in French and more than 290,000 in Arabic and English through Storytel. Storytel says the agreements also “open the door for expansion into French-speaking markets.” The company’s new editorial lead for the European region Constance Parpoil “will head the development of the French catalogue and other publishing partnerships in the region.” “We are happy that Storytel is opening a service in France on a […]
PRH UK and Harper UK Increase Base Salaries
Penguin Random House UK and Harper Collins UK raised their entry-level salaries to over £26,000, effective July 1. At PRH UK, base level pay was increased £2,500 to £26,500, with a guaranteed raise of £1,000 after a year. At Harper UK, salaries now begin at £26,250, up from £25,000. That sounds low to an American ear, particularly with the pound down to almost parity with the US dollar. It is slightly above London’s “living wage” of £24,900, and about 39 percent above the minimum wage. (The New York baseline starting salary of $45,000 at the big five publishers is 44 […]
France Imposes Minimum Shipping Fee for Book Orders
The French government has set a minimum fee of €3 for online book orders of less than €35, Reuters reports. France has submitted the proposal to the EU and the fee will take effect six months after it is approved. In December of last year the government passed a law requiring a minimum shipping rate — aimed to level the playing field between independent retailers and Amazon, which offers shipping as low as one cent — but hadn’t determined what the rate would be.