Publishing In Growth After Recession

gothicangel · Jun 20, 2011

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/global-publishing-back-front-foot.html

The world's largest publishers have begun growing again after weathering the global recession over the past three years, with Pearson once again emerging as top dog.
According to the annual ranking of global publishing performance, compiled on behalf of Livres Hebdo, Buchreport, Publishers Weekly and The Bookseller, publishing revenues in 2010 have overtaken the total revenues for 2008 and 2009.

Among the 10 largest groups, professional and STM publishing is the largest sector, with 43% of the total revenues, followed by trade with 31%, and education at 26%. However, the ranking shows how education has grown in size over the past three years with the sector contributing sales of €6.9bn in 2008 to €8.2bn, representing growth of 18%. Trade publishing has grown 9% over the same period, but its share of the total market has diminished from 35% to 31%.

The survey is in marked contrast to bookselling, where a number of brands have fallen foul of the recession and the shift to digital, including Borders, Angus & Robertson and British Bookshops. Others such as Barnes & Noble and Waterstone's continue to struggle. Of the top booksellers, only Amazon has grown its sales over the equivalent time frame.

shaldna · Jun 20, 2011

I think a big part of the growth is because books are, compared to other entertainment, reasonably cheap.

For instance, if I go to the cinema here it'll cost me £7, which is the same as a book - or two books in one of the supermarkets. So, that £7 can by me 90mins of entertainment, or a couple of hours entertainment.

thothguard51 · Jun 20, 2011

I think the fact that the big trade publishers have firmly diversified their brands to include e-books has added to the growth in the past two years.

Unsure though if this represents long term growth or a short spike because of the newness of e-readers and apps that allow magazines and books to be read on phones and such...

Margarita Skies · Jun 20, 2011

I love reading and looking forward to having my own collection of books by my favorite authors of all genres.

Publishing In Growth After Recession

gothicangel

Toughen up.

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

Margarita Skies