The five largest publishing houses are enjoying increased earnings over the past six month period compared to the same period last year.
Why?
See if you can figure it out after reading the following report from Publisher's Weekly by Jim Milliot:
There is no better example of the cyclical nature of book publishing than the six-month results of the nation's five largest trade publishers. Four of the five houses reported significant changes in their operating performance in the first half of 2010 compared to one year ago, with big books, or the lack thereof, playing a major role in the shifts.
Random House and HarperCollins, which both had declines in revenue and earnings in the first half of 2009, posted gains in both areas this year. Simon & Schuster, which had a steep drop in sales and earnings in the first half of 2009, had a small dip in sales again this year, but a big rebound in earnings. Of the major publishers, Penguin Group has been the most consistent, posting a solid increase in sales in the first half of 2010 after recording a double-digit gain in the January-June period in 2009. Revenue and earnings at Lagardère Publishing, parent company of Hachette Book Group, had the expected decline as the company found it impossible to match the sales volume generated by the Stephenie Meyer books in 2009. The good news for Lagardère was that despite declines, it still had the highest operating margins among the big houses.
While the cooling off of a blockbuster series led to a decline in results at Hachette, the continuing sales surge for the Stieg Larsson trilogy was key in boosting results at Random House, with 6.5 million copies (hardcover, e-book, audio) of Larsson's works sold in the U.S. and Germany. Sarah Palin's Going Rogue played an important role in turning around the sales fortunes at HC. Released late in calendar 2009, the book's sales carried through for much of the first six months of 2010. One thing keeping S&S from returning to the sales levels of 2008 is that it has not had a blockbuster of the magnitude of Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, but that could change. Byrne's The Power, just out this summer with a one million–copy first printing, has become an immediate bestseller. S&S was able to show a dramatic improvement in its bottom line this year, despite a sales dip, because of improved operating efficiencies and cost cutting. S&S took restructuring charges of $1.7 million in the first half of 2010 related to severance costs; in the same period in 2009 it took $2.9 million in charges.
Read more: http://alturl.com/buppa
Why?
See if you can figure it out after reading the following report from Publisher's Weekly by Jim Milliot:
There is no better example of the cyclical nature of book publishing than the six-month results of the nation's five largest trade publishers. Four of the five houses reported significant changes in their operating performance in the first half of 2010 compared to one year ago, with big books, or the lack thereof, playing a major role in the shifts.
Random House and HarperCollins, which both had declines in revenue and earnings in the first half of 2009, posted gains in both areas this year. Simon & Schuster, which had a steep drop in sales and earnings in the first half of 2009, had a small dip in sales again this year, but a big rebound in earnings. Of the major publishers, Penguin Group has been the most consistent, posting a solid increase in sales in the first half of 2010 after recording a double-digit gain in the January-June period in 2009. Revenue and earnings at Lagardère Publishing, parent company of Hachette Book Group, had the expected decline as the company found it impossible to match the sales volume generated by the Stephenie Meyer books in 2009. The good news for Lagardère was that despite declines, it still had the highest operating margins among the big houses.
While the cooling off of a blockbuster series led to a decline in results at Hachette, the continuing sales surge for the Stieg Larsson trilogy was key in boosting results at Random House, with 6.5 million copies (hardcover, e-book, audio) of Larsson's works sold in the U.S. and Germany. Sarah Palin's Going Rogue played an important role in turning around the sales fortunes at HC. Released late in calendar 2009, the book's sales carried through for much of the first six months of 2010. One thing keeping S&S from returning to the sales levels of 2008 is that it has not had a blockbuster of the magnitude of Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, but that could change. Byrne's The Power, just out this summer with a one million–copy first printing, has become an immediate bestseller. S&S was able to show a dramatic improvement in its bottom line this year, despite a sales dip, because of improved operating efficiencies and cost cutting. S&S took restructuring charges of $1.7 million in the first half of 2010 related to severance costs; in the same period in 2009 it took $2.9 million in charges.
Read more: http://alturl.com/buppa
3 comments:
My take: Addicts: affluent/impoverished/Charge card devotees - will pursue their fix at any cost! As a certified member of this adherence, I can testify that I will be drawn to purchase hardbacks by my favorite writers despite my better fiscal judgment! Can't wait for paperback editions or library availability!
Also, these major publishers have caught on to the e-book phenomenon and are cashing in, as well.
Nothing wrong with your take...
Would you buy an eBook whose subject was intriguing and interesting but the author unknown to you or not one of your favorites?
Jeanne,
Go to http://alturl.com/tnap for "Publishing Flourishing in India - Lessons To Be Learned?"
Post a Comment