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Simon & Schuster LLC (/ˈʃuːstər/ SHOO-stər) is an American publishing house owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts since 2023. It was founded in New York City in 1924, by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster.[5] Along with Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins and Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster is considered one of the "Big Five" English-language publishers. As of 2017, Simon & Schuster was the third largest publisher in the United States,[6] publishing 2,000 titles annually under 35 different imprints.[7][8]

Key Information

History

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Early years

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In 1924, Richard Simon's aunt, a crossword puzzle enthusiast, asked whether there was a book of New York World crossword puzzles, which were popular at the time. After discovering that none had been published, Simon and Max Schuster decided to launch a company to exploit the opportunity.[9] At the time, Simon was a piano salesman and Schuster was editor of an automotive trade magazine.[10] They pooled US$8,000, equivalent to $147,000 today[11] and started a company that published crossword puzzles.[12][9]

The new publishing house used "fad" publishing to publish books that exploited current fads and trends. Simon called this "planned publishing".[10] Instead of signing authors with a planned manuscript, they came up with their own ideas, and then hired writers to carry them out.[10]

In the 1930s, the publisher moved to what has been referred to as "Publisher's Row" on Park Avenue in Manhattan, New York.[10]

Expansion

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In 1939, Simon & Schuster backed Robert Fair de Graff to found Pocket Books, America's first paperback publisher.[13] In 1942, Simon & Schuster and Western Publishing launched the Little Golden Books series in cooperation with the Artists and Writers Guild.[14][15]

In 1944, Marshall Field III, owner of the Chicago Sun, purchased Simon & Schuster and Pocket Books.[16] The company was sold back to Simon & Schuster following his death in 1957 [17] for $1 million.[18]

In the 1950s and 1960s, many publishers including Simon & Schuster turned toward educational publishing due to the baby boom market.[19] Pocket Books focused on paperbacks for the educational market instead of textbooks and started the Washington Square Press imprint in 1959.[19] By 1964, it had published more than 200 titles and was expected to put out another 400 by the end of that year.[19] Books published under the imprint included classic reprints such as Lorna Doone, Ivanhoe, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and Robinson Crusoe.[20] In 1967, Simon & Schuster acquired Monarch Press Publishing, Inc., along with its extensive line of college and high school study guides published.[21]

In 1960, Richard Simon died of a heart attack; six years later, Max Schuster retired and sold his half of Simon & Schuster to Leon Shimkin.[12][22] Shimkin then merged Simon & Schuster with Pocket Books under the name of Simon & Schuster.[12][22] In 1968, editor-in-chief Robert Gottlieb, who worked at Simon & Schuster since 1955 and edited several bestsellers including Joseph Heller's Catch-22,[23] left abruptly to work at competitor Knopf, taking other influential S&S employees, Nina Bourne, and Tony Schulte.[24][12]

Simon & Schuster was acquired by Gulf+Western in an 8-for-1 stock swap on January 28, 1975.[25] Four years later, in 1979, Richard Snyder was named CEO of the company. Over the next several years he would help the company to grow substantially.[26]

1980s

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After the death of Gulf+Western head Charles Bluhdorn on February 19, 1983,[27] the company made the decision to diversify. Bluhdorn's successor Martin Davis told The New York Times, "Society was undergoing dramatic changes so that there was a greater need for textbooks, maps, and educational information. We saw the opportunity to diversify into those areas, which are more stable and more profitable than trade publishing."[28]

In 1984, Simon & Schuster with CEO Richard E. Snyder acquired educational publisher Esquire Corporation, owner of companies including Allyn & Bacon (and former owner of Esquire magazine), for $180 million.[28] Prentice Hall was brought into the company fold in 1985 for more than $700 million and was viewed by some executives to be a catalyst for change for the company as a whole.[12][28] This acquisition was followed by Silver Burdett in 1986,[29] mapmaker Gousha in 1987 and Charles E. Simon in 1988.[29] Part of the acquisition included educational publisher Allyn & Bacon which, according to then editor and chief Michael Korda, became the "nucleus of S&S's educational and informational business".[12] Three California educational companies were also purchased between 1988 and 1990 – Quercus, Fearon Education and Janus Book Publishers.[28] In all, Simon & Schuster spent more than $1 billion in acquisitions between 1983 and 1991.[29]

In the 1980s, Snyder also made an unsuccessful bid toward video publishing which was believed to have led to the company's success in the audiobook business. Snyder was dismayed to realize that Simon & Schuster did not own the video rights to Jane Fonda's Workout Book, a huge bestseller at the time and that the video company producing the VHS was making more money on the video. This prompted Snyder to ask editors to obtain video rights for every new book. Agents were often reluctant to give these up – which meant the S&S Video division never took off. Simon & Schuster launched its audiobook division in 1985.[30] According to Korda, audiobooks were a major business for Simon & Schuster by the 1990s.[12]

In 1989, Gulf and Western Inc., owner of Simon & Schuster, changed its name to Paramount Communications Inc.[31]

1990s

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In 1990, The New York Times described Simon & Schuster as the largest book publisher in the United States, with sales of $1.3 billion the previous year.[28] That same year, Simon & Schuster acquired the children's publisher Green Tiger Press.[32]

In 1993, Simon & Schuster bought Macmillan (including Scribner's, Free Press, and Jossey-Bass), and changed its name to Paramount Publishing. Viacom then bought Paramount in 1994 and changed the name back to Simon & Schuster.[33][34] Macmillan was acquired for US$552.8 million.[35] Later that year, Snyder was suddenly fired from S&S and was replaced by the company's president and chief operating officer Jonathan Newcomb.[26] Simon & Schuster then sold several peripheral assets, such as selling Charles E. Simon Co. to CDB Infotek.[36] Gousha was sold to Rand McNally in 1996.[37]

In 1994, S&S acquired the software operations of Markt+Technik.[38] Later that year, Simon & Schuster (through Paramount) launched a software publisher in partnership with Davidson & Associates named Simon & Schuster Interactive.[39] The studio published video games such as Outlaw Golf, Deer Avenger, I.M. Meen, Chill Manor, EVE Online, and games based on Richard Scarry's characters. S&S Interactive shut down in 2003.[40]

In 1998, Viacom sold Simon & Schuster's educational operations (including Prentice Hall, Macmillan, and Jossey-Bass) to Pearson plc, the global publisher and then owner of Penguin and the Financial Times; Pearson then merged the operations with Addison-Wesley Longman to form Pearson Education. Later, Pearson sold several of the acquired S&S divisions: first Appleton & Lange was divested to McGraw-Hill and Master Data Central was sold to Master Data Center.[41] Then, Jossey-Bass was sold to John Wiley & Sons and the Bureau of Business Practice was sold to Wolters Kluwer.[42] Subsequently, Macmillan Library Reference's children's imprints (Silver Burdett Press, Dillon Press, Crestwood House, Silver Press, New Discovery and Julian Messner) were closed.[43] Then, Gale acquired Macmillan Library Reference (Charles Scribner's Sons Reference, Macmillan Reference, Thorndike Press, G.K. Hall, Twayne Publishers and Schirmer Books).[44] Finally, IDG Books acquired Macmillan General Reference (including Frommer's, J.K. Lasser, Betty Crocker Cookbooks, Weight Watchers Dieting and Cookbooks and Howell House Pet Books but excluding Complete Idiot's Guides, which Pearson later transferred to Macmillan Computer Publishing under Alpha Books and currently part of Penguin Random House under Dorling Kindersley).[45][46]

2000s

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In 2002, Simon & Schuster acquired its Canadian distributor Distican.[47] Simon & Schuster began publishing in Canada in 2013.[48]

At the end of 2005, Viacom split into two companies: CBS Corporation (which inherited S&S and Paramount Parks), and the other retaining the Viacom name.[49] Also in 2005, Simon & Schuster acquired Strebor Books International, which was founded in 1999 by author Kristina Laferne Roberts, who has written under the pseudonym "Zane".[50][51] A year later, in 2006, Simon & Schuster launched the conservative imprint Threshold Editions.[52]

In 2009, Simon & Schuster signed a multi-book and co-publishing deal with Glenn Beck which fell over many of its imprints and included adult non-fiction, fiction, children, and YA literature as well as e-book and audiobook originals.[53] As part of CBS, Simon & Schuster has been the primary publisher for books related to various media franchises owned by and/or aired on CBS such as CSI.[54] The company has also held a license to publish books in the Star Trek franchise under Pocket Books.[55]

2010s

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In 2011, Simon & Schuster signed a number of co-publishing deals. Glenn Beck signed a new co-publishing deal with Simon & Schuster for his own imprint, Mercury Ink.[56] Under Atria, Simon & Schuster also launched a publishing venture with Cash Money Records called Cash Money Content.[57]

On April 11, 2012, the United States Department of Justice filed United States v. Apple Inc., naming Apple, Simon & Schuster, and four other major publishers as defendants. The suit alleged that they conspired to fix prices for e-books, and weaken Amazon.com's position in the market, in violation of antitrust law.[58]

Simon & Schuster reorganized all of their imprints under four main groups in 2012.[59] The four groups included the Atria Publishing Group, the Scribner Publishing Group, the Simon & Schuster Publishing Group and the Gallery Publishing Group.[59] According to CEO Carolyn Reidy, the divisions were created to align imprints that complement one another and that the structure would "lead to a sharper editorial focus for our imprints even as it takes consideration of the natural affinities among them."[59] In 2012, Simon & Schuster launched a self-publishing arm of the company, Archway Publishing.[60]

On November 14, 2013, Simon & Schuster signed a co-publishing agreement with former New York Yankees shortstop, Derek Jeter, to launch Jeter Publishing.[61] In December 2013, a federal judge approved a settlement of the antitrust claims, in which Simon & Schuster and the other publishers paid into a fund that provided credits to customers who had overpaid for books due to the price-fixing.[62]

In 2014, Simon & Schuster signed a partnership deal with Amazon over ebooks and also launched a new speculative fiction imprint. On October 21, 2014, Simon & Schuster signed a multi-year partnership deal with Amazon.com in negotiations concerning the price of e-books.[63] Simon & Schuster also launched a new science fiction imprint called Simon451 that would publish titles across science fiction and fantasy with an emphasis on ebooks and online communities.[64] The name of the imprint was inspired by Ray Bradbury's book Fahrenheit 451 (the temperature at which books burn).[64] Bradbury's classic is also published by Simon & Schuster.[64]

Simon & Schuster expanded beyond book publishing in 2015 by offering a new business model and additional services for authors. In 2015, Simon & Schuster announced the creation of a new publishing unit and imprint called North Star Way.[65] The imprint would publish non-fiction titles such as self-improvement, inspirational and mind-body-spirit titles. In addition, the group would also serve as a platform and set of services for authors that go beyond what a traditional book publisher offers to find their audience.[65] The services include helping authors expand their reach through online courses, seminars, workshops, mobile applications, video and audiobooks, sponsorships and business partnerships, and podcasts. North Star Way sits within the Gallery Publishing Group division.[65] According to Michele Martin, publisher and founder, the name North Star reflects their mission, "to publish books that will help readers find the path to a better life, and to be a guide for our authors, not only through publication of their books but also in the many other activities that can help their message find the widest possible audience."[66] In an interview with Kirkus Reviews, Michele Martin expanded that North Star Way, "aims to meet consumers where they are, in whatever form of media they consume. We expand the ideas in the books into a variety of platforms."[67] The name prompted Marvel Comics to attempt to register the name of their superhero Northstar in February 2015. The application was denied as Simon & Schuster had already made a trademark application for North Star Way in January.[68]

Simon & Schuster launched SimonSays.com a portal for online video courses in 2016, along with Scout Press, a new literary fiction imprint under Gallery Books Group. They also launched North Star Way, a platform-based program to provide authors with services beyond publishing including brand management, online courses, sponsorship, and business partnerships.[7] Also as of 2016, Simon & Schuster had more than 18k e-books available for sale and signed a deal to distribute Start Publishing LLC, a catalog of 7,000 e-book titles.[7]

In 2019, CBS and Viacom reunited to form ViacomCBS. As a result, Simon & Schuster became part of the newly formed ViacomCBS.[69] Since February 15, 2022, ViacomCBS is known as Paramount Global.

2020s

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In March 2020, ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish announced the company's intention to sell the Simon & Schuster division, as it "does not have significant connection for our broader business."[70] Bakish expected the sale to close in 2020, a date that was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[71][72]

In September 2020, German media group Bertelsmann, which owns Penguin Random House, announced that it was interested in acquiring Simon & Schuster. According to Bertelsmann chief executive and chairman Thomas Rabe, "We've been the most active player on the consolidation of the book publishing market in the last 10 years. We combined Penguin and Random House very successfully to create by far the largest book publisher in the world, actually the only global book publisher. Given this position we would, of course, be interested in Simon & Schuster."[73]

Vivendi, which owns the French publisher Editis, and News Corp, which owns HarperCollins, were also named as contenders in acquiring Simon & Schuster. ViacomCBS expected the bids to be placed before November 26, 2020.[74]

On November 25, 2020, ViacomCBS announced it would sell Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House for $2.175 billion.[75][76][77] The deal was expected to close in 2022, but was blocked by US federal judge Florence Y. Pan on October 31, 2022.[78] An appeal to the court ruling was announced a day later by Bertelsmann,[79] but it was ultimately canceled on November 21.[80]

In 2021, Simon & Schuster made book deals with former Trump administration officials such as Vice President Mike Pence and Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. This prompted protests among Simon & Schuster staff.[81][82][83] On November 2, 2021, the United States Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block Penguin Random House's proposed acquisition of Simon & Schuster. The lawsuit argues that the acquisition would create a publisher with too much influence over books and author payments.[84] A federal judge sided with the plaintiff, leading Paramount to nullify the deal in November 2022.[85]

In 2022, Simon & Schuster employee Filippo Bernardini was arrested for the 2016–2021 literary phishing thefts. The company released a statement saying they were "shocked and horrified to learn today of the allegations of fraud and identity theft by an employee."[86]

In June 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that HarperCollins and investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) had emerged as potential frontrunners for the company.[87] On August 3, 2023, it was reported that KKR was in "advanced talks" with Paramount Global.[88][89] On August 7, 2023, Paramount Global announced that it had agreed to sell Simon & Schuster to KKR for $1.62 billion.[90] The sale was completed on October 30, 2023.[91][92]

In May 2024, Simon & Schuster acquired Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK), the largest Dutch book publishing company. The acquisition includes all of VBK's imprints in the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as its sister companies, the audiobook producer Thinium, and Bookchoice, a subscription-based platform for e-books and audiobooks. This is the first expansion of Simon & Schuster into a non-English market.[93] In September 2024, it was announced that Simon & Schuster Australia had entered an agreement to acquire publisher Affirm Press.[94]

People

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Editors and publishers

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Authors

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Simon & Schuster has published thousands of books from thousands of authors. This list represents some of the more notable authors (those who are culturally significant or have had several bestsellers, meaning they have sold at least 3,000 books).

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According to one source, The Sower, the logo of Simon & Schuster, was inspired by the 1850 painting of the same name by Jean-François Millet.[95] According to Michael Korda, the colophon is a small reproduction of The Sower by Sir John Everett Millais.[96]

Imprints

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Adult publishing

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Children's publishing

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  • Aladdin, publisher of picture and chapter books for middle-grade readers
  • Atheneum, publisher of literary middle grade, teen and picture books
  • Beach Lane Books,[7] publisher of picture books, founded in 2008 and located in San Diego[108]
  • BFYR[7]"Childrens publisher".</ref>publisher of children's books
  • Little Simon,[7] publisher of children's books
  • Margaret K. McElderry Books,[7] boutique imprint publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction for children and teens
  • MTV Books, pop culture imprint relaunched in 2021[109]
  • Paula Wiseman Books,[7] publisher of picture books, novelty books and novels for children
  • Salaam Reads, imprint for Muslim children's literature by Simon & Schuster's Children's Division[110]
  • Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers,[7] flagship imprint of Simon & Schuster's Children's Division
  • Simon Spotlight,[7] publisher focused on licensed properties for children

Audio

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Former imprints

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  • Archway (children's imprint of Pocket Books, merged into Aladdin Paperbacks)[111]
  • Bookthrift (Inexpensive reprints, discontinued)
  • Earthlight (UK science fiction imprint, discontinued)
  • Downtown Press (women's fiction, discontinued)
  • Fireside Books
  • Free Press[7]
  • Green Tiger Press
  • Half Moon Books
  • Inner Sanctum Mysteries
  • Linden Press
  • Long Shadow Books
  • Minstrel Books (children's imprint of Pocket Books, merged into Aladdin Paperbacks[111])
  • Poseidon Press (operated 1982–1993)
  • Richard Gallen Books
  • Simon & Schuster Interactive (1995–2003)
  • Simon Pulse, publisher of teen books, launched in 1999 as Pocket Pulse and renamed in 2001[112][111]
  • Sonnet Books
  • Tiller Press (specializes in "practical nonfiction": diet, wellness, home design.)
  • Touchstone, Touchstone Books (closed December 2018)[113]
  • Wallaby Books

See also

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References

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Further reading

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Simon & Schuster

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Simon & Schuster is an American book publishing company founded in in April 1924 by and M. Lincoln Schuster, who launched the firm with a bestselling crossword puzzle book inspired by the era's puzzle fad. The company quickly expanded, achieving early commercial triumphs with titles like by and pioneering mass-market paperbacks in 1939 through its imprint, which made literature more accessible to broad audiences. As one of the "Big Five" English-language trade publishers, Simon & Schuster releases over 2,000 titles annually across more than 35 imprints, including Scribner and Atria, and maintains a global presence with a history of producing award-winning works such as 61 recipients, 18 winners, and numerous honors. Its catalog encompasses fiction, nonfiction, and reference books that have shaped cultural discourse, from Joseph Heller's to children's classics like Eloise. The publisher's modern trajectory includes significant ownership shifts: acquired by (then Viacom) in 1975, it faced antitrust scrutiny in 2022 when a proposed $2.175 billion merger with was blocked by a U.S. federal judge, preserving in the industry; subsequently, in August 2023, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) purchased it for $1.62 billion, marking its transition to private equity control. This deal, amid broader consolidation trends in , underscores ongoing debates over market concentration while allowing Simon & Schuster to operate independently under KKR's portfolio.

History

Founding and Early Development (1924–1930s)

Simon & Schuster was founded in January 1924 in New York City by Richard L. Simon, a piano salesman, and M. Lincoln Schuster, an arts and culture columnist, who pooled their limited resources to launch the venture. The idea originated from Simon's aunt, a crossword puzzle enthusiast who inquired about a collection of puzzles from The New York World, prompting the partners to secure rights and publish the first dedicated crossword book. Their debut title, The Cross Word Puzzle Book, released on April 10, 1924, featured 50 puzzles compiled by Prosper Buranelli and Fun Inc., with a first printing of 3,600 copies priced at $1.35 each, bundled with a miniature pencil and graph-paper pencil holder as a novelty promotion. The crossword book rapidly became a bestseller amid the 1920s puzzle craze, selling over 100,000 copies initially and exceeding 1 million combined sales across four editions by the end of 1924, providing the financial foundation for the company's survival and growth. Simon & Schuster differentiated itself through aggressive marketing, allocating 5 to 10 times more on than competitors, and pioneering bookseller returns of unsold copies for full credit, which reduced retailer risk and boosted distribution. Early catalogs diversified beyond puzzles to include biographies like one on , poetry, and fiction such as Harvey Landrum's novel, establishing a reputation for innovative, high-quality titles. In the late 1920s and 1930s, the firm expanded its nonfiction and fiction lines with notable successes, including Will Durant's in 1926, which sold hundreds of thousands of copies and became a defining profiling philosophers from to Nietzsche. Other key releases encompassed Leon Trotsky's History of the and Felix Salten's , alongside literary achievements like Josephine Johnson's Now in November, which won the in 1935. By 1939, amid the Great Depression's challenges, Simon & Schuster partnered with Robert Fair de Graff to launch , America's inaugural mass-market imprint, distributing 10 titles at 25 cents each through nontraditional outlets like newsstands and Woolworth's, selling 1.5 million copies in the first year and inaugurating the affordable era.

Mid-Century Expansion and Innovations (1940s–1970s)

In the 1940s, Simon & Schuster pioneered accessible publishing formats amid wartime constraints and post-war consumer growth. Partnering with Robert de Graff, the company launched in 1939 as the first U.S. mass-market line, priced at 25 cents and distributed through non-traditional outlets like newsstands and drugstores, which expanded readership beyond elite hardcover markets. In 1942, Simon & Schuster introduced , a series of durable, low-cost children's titles also priced at 25 cents, produced in collaboration with Western Publishing's Artists and Writers Guild; these emphasized simple narratives and colorful illustrations, selling millions and democratizing early literacy. The company's output included significant like William L. Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich in 1960, reflecting editorial focus on historical analysis. In 1944, Field Enterprises acquired Simon & Schuster for approximately $3 million, providing capital for operations while founders Richard Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster retained management. The 1950s marked internal restructuring and sales growth through diversified imprints. Richard Simon retired in 1957 due to health issues and died in 1960, after which the company was repurchased by the principals from Field Enterprises for $1 million. M. Lincoln Schuster retired in 1966, selling his stake to executive Leon Shimkin, who merged fully into Simon & Schuster and took the firm public that year to fund further development. Innovations in format persisted, with paperbacks enabling reprints of bestsellers like and The Blackboard Jungle, boosting revenue via volume sales. By the late 1950s, had sold over 400 million copies, underscoring the success of affordable, mass-produced . Entering the 1970s, Simon & Schuster navigated leadership transitions amid industry consolidation. Seymour Turk served as president from 1973 until replaced by in 1975, who emphasized aggressive imprint expansion. Notable titles included in 1974, capitalizing on Watergate interest. In 1975, Gulf + Western Industries acquired the company through a stock swap valued at $55 million, integrating it into a conglomerate structure that supported autonomy while accessing broader resources. Failed merger attempts, such as with Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1974, highlighted competitive pressures but preserved independent growth trajectories.

Corporate Acquisitions and Restructuring (1980s–1990s)

In the early 1980s, Simon & Schuster, under the ownership of Gulf+Western Industries, initiated a strategy of aggressive expansion through acquisitions to bolster its educational, professional, and reference segments. A key transaction occurred in 1984 when Gulf+Western acquired Prentice-Hall Inc. for approximately $700 million, integrating it into Simon & Schuster's division to enhance its textbook and professional book offerings. This period saw the purchase of over 60 companies, including Silver Burdett for elementary educational materials and Ginn & Company in 1982 for $100 million, which expanded Simon & Schuster's K-12 and higher education imprints. These moves diversified revenue streams amid a consolidating industry, though they increased debt and operational complexity for the parent conglomerate. By 1989, Gulf+Western underwent a major corporate restructuring, rebranding as Paramount Communications Inc. to refocus on media and entertainment assets, including Simon & Schuster and . This shift streamlined non-core operations and positioned Simon & Schuster within a more cohesive communications portfolio, enabling synergies in distribution and content. Under new CEO , who assumed leadership as part of the transition, the company launched its division in 1985, which grew into a significant source by the early through cassette and later CD formats. The 1990s brought further acquisitions and internal reorganizations under Paramount Communications. In 1993, Simon & Schuster acquired Macmillan Inc., a major player in reference and educational publishing, for $1.25 billion, shortly before Viacom's $10 billion purchase of Paramount Communications in 1994. To manage integration, Simon & Schuster consolidated its consumer publishing group into two divisions in 1990—trade and mass market—and absorbed Prentice Hall's trade press operations in 1991, eliminating redundant imprints to cut costs and improve efficiency. These restructurings addressed overlapping portfolios from acquisitions but faced challenges from industry-wide shifts toward multimedia, prompting divestitures of non-core assets by the mid-1990s.

Digital Era Challenges and Growth (2000s–2010s)

In the early , Simon & Schuster confronted the initial disruptions of digital publishing, including the shift toward online retail dominance by Amazon and the emergence of e-books as a viable format. In March 2000, the company pioneered major e-book adoption by releasing Stephen King's novella exclusively in digital form, marking the first prominent e-novel from a major publisher and demonstrating consumer demand despite technical glitches like server overloads from high traffic. To address inventory inefficiencies and leverage , Simon & Schuster formed a in July 2000 with , Ingram's print-on-demand service, enabling rapid fulfillment of backlist titles and reducing overstock risks amid declining physical bookstore chains. The mid-2000s saw accelerated e-book growth following Amazon's Kindle launch in 2007, with Simon & Schuster's digital sales—including e-books and audio downloads—reaching $12 million in , an $8.4 million increase from the prior year. By then, e-books constituted approximately 8% of the company's , reflecting broader industry trends where digital formats grew from negligible to significant shares. This expansion doubled again in 2011, driven by device proliferation and consumer preference for on-demand access, though it prompted strategies like delaying e-book releases for select titles to safeguard hardcover sales. Pricing tensions intensified as retailers like Amazon discounted aggressively under the wholesale model, prompting Simon & Schuster and other publishers to adopt the agency pricing model in 2010, allowing publishers to set e-book prices directly after Apple's iBookstore entry. Amazon acquiesced to agency terms with Simon & Schuster in April 2010, but the coordinated shift drew U.S. Department of Justice scrutiny for alleged to elevate prices, leading to a 2012 settlement where Simon & Schuster, alongside Hachette and , agreed to antitrust remedies without admitting wrongdoing as part of a $69 million consumer restitution pool. By 2014, a renewed multi-year agreement with Amazon preserved agency elements while incorporating incentives for competitive pricing, aiding adaptation amid ongoing antitrust risks and piracy concerns.

Recent Ownership Transitions and Market Shifts (2020s)

In March 2020, Paramount Global initiated a strategic review of Simon & Schuster amid efforts to divest non-core assets, culminating in an agreement on November 25, 2020, to sell the publisher to Bertelsmann-owned Penguin Random House for $2.175 billion. The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit on November 2, 2021, to block the merger, contending it would diminish competition in the trade book publishing market and exert monopsony power over authors by reducing advances paid for anticipated bestsellers. On October 31, 2022, U.S. District Judge Florence Pan issued a permanent injunction, ruling that the transaction was likely to lessen competition substantially, as Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster together accounted for nearly 50% of the U.S. trade publishing market for books with advances over $250,000. Following the blocked deal, which required Paramount to pay a $200 million termination fee to Penguin Random House, the company pursued alternative buyers. On August 7, 2023, Paramount agreed to sell Simon & Schuster to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), a , for $1.62 billion in cash, a price reflecting adjustments for the prior merger's failure and ongoing regulatory reviews. The transaction closed on October 30, 2023, marking Simon & Schuster's transition to private equity ownership and its seventh major ownership change since 1924; KKR committed to maintaining the publisher's operational independence while providing resources for growth in a fragmented media landscape. This sale proceeded without antitrust challenge, highlighting differential regulatory treatment of horizontal mergers versus private equity acquisitions in publishing. The 2020s ownership saga reflected broader market shifts in book publishing, including heightened antitrust scrutiny amid consolidation trends where the "Big Five" publishers control over 80% of U.S. trade sales. The COVID-19 pandemic initially boosted print book sales by 8.2% in 2020 due to lockdowns and stimulus spending, but subsequent years saw softening demand, with U.S. industry revenues declining 2.8% in 2022 to $25.8 billion amid supply chain disruptions and inflation. For Simon & Schuster specifically, digital formats comprised about 20% of revenue in 2021, with audiobooks rising 11% year-over-year while ebooks fell 9%, underscoring a pivot toward audio amid stagnant print growth. Private equity entry like KKR's signals potential for cost efficiencies and investment in backlist exploitation, contrasting with media conglomerate ownership's focus on synergies, though critics warn of short-term profit pressures potentially affecting editorial risk-taking. By 2025, these dynamics coincided with leadership changes, including CEO Jonathan Karp's August 26 announcement to step down and form a new imprint, Simon Six, amid stable operations under KKR.

Ownership and Governance

Paramount Global Era (2006–2023)

In 2006, following the split of Viacom Inc. into two separate publicly traded entities—CBS Corporation and the new Viacom Inc.—Simon & Schuster transitioned to ownership under , where it operated as the company's primary trade publishing division. This restructuring preserved Simon & Schuster's autonomy in book publishing while integrating it into a broader focused on television, radio, and outdoor advertising. During the CBS era, maintained steady operations, publishing consumer books across imprints and leveraging its catalog of established authors. The company navigated the shift toward digital formats, including e-books and audiobooks, amid industry-wide disruptions from online retail and , though specific synergies with 's broadcast assets remained limited due to publishing's distinct . In 2010, Carolyn Reidy assumed the role of president and CEO, guiding the division through expansions in international markets and adaptations to streaming-era content trends until her death in 2020. The 2019 merger of and Viacom formed ViacomCBS (renamed in February 2022), reincorporating Simon & Schuster into a diversified portfolio that included , television, and streaming services like Paramount+. However, was increasingly viewed as a non-core asset amid ViacomCBS's post-merger cost-cutting efforts targeting $750 million in savings. In March 2020, ViacomCBS announced plans to divest Simon & Schuster to streamline operations and focus on high-growth media segments. Bids for Simon & Schuster culminated in a 2020 agreement with Bertelsmann's for $2.175 billion, aiming to consolidate market share in U.S. trade . The U.S. Department of challenged the deal on antitrust grounds, arguing it would reduce and author advances; a federal judge blocked the merger in October 2022 after a trial highlighting industry concentration risks. then restarted the sale process in May 2023, culminating in an August 7 agreement to sell to KKR for $1.62 billion in cash, a transaction completed on October 30, 2023, marking the end of corporate media ownership.

KKR Acquisition and Private Equity Influence (2023–Present)

In August 2023, Paramount Global agreed to sell Simon & Schuster to KKR, a global , for $1.62 billion in cash, following the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust blockade of a prior $2.175 billion deal with . The transaction, financed primarily through KKR's North America Fund XIII with fully committed backing, closed on October 30, 2023, marking Simon & Schuster's transition to private ownership after 17 years under Paramount. KKR's acquisition strategy emphasized continuity in leadership and operations while introducing elements of its proprietary "Capstone" operating model, which includes employee profit-sharing to foster and performance incentives uncommon in traditional . Simon & Schuster CEO remained in place, publicly highlighting KKR's focus on growth investments rather than immediate divestitures. In December 2023, KKR appointed a new comprising industry veterans, including publishing executives alongside leaders from and , to guide strategic oversight. Under KKR's influence, Simon & Schuster has prioritized operational efficiency and digital expansion, aligning with practices aimed at enhancing enterprise value through targeted capital allocation rather than broad cost reductions seen in some leveraged buyouts. Critics, including publishing analysts, have raised concerns that ownership—characterized by debt-financed acquisitions and eventual exits via sale or IPO—could pressure margins through potential future leverage or asset optimization, drawing parallels to KKR's past involvement in retail restructurings like Toys "R" Us, though no such measures have been implemented at Simon & Schuster as of 2025. To date, the publisher has maintained its imprint structure and author roster without reported layoffs or major imprints sales, reflecting KKR's stated intent to leverage its $500 billion-plus asset base for long-term scaling in a consolidating industry.

Organizational Structure

Imprints and Divisions

Simon & Schuster structures its publishing operations into three primary divisions: Adult Publishing, Children’s Publishing, and Audio Publishing. These divisions encompass over 25 imprints that collectively produce approximately 2,000 titles annually, spanning , , and specialized formats. The imprints operate with a degree of autonomy in editorial decisions while sharing centralized sales, marketing, and production resources, enabling focused genre expertise and targeted audience outreach. The Adult Publishing division handles general interest books for adult readers, including literary fiction, commercial thrillers, memoirs, , and self-improvement titles. Key imprints within this division include the flagship Simon & Schuster imprint, which maintains a legacy of trade publishing since the company's founding; Atria Books, emphasizing culturally diverse and such as , family stories, and relationships; and Adams Media, specializing in practical like business guides and lifestyle advice. Other notable adult imprints feature Gallery Books for entertainment-driven narratives and Scribner for literary works, contributing to the division's broad commercial and critical output. The Children’s Publishing division targets readers from through , producing board books, picture books, middle-grade novels, and teen with an emphasis on award-winning backlists. Prominent imprints include , which focuses on chapter books, graphic novels, and series for middle-grade audiences; and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, known for innovative in and for older children and teens. This division supports educational and entertainment content, with titles often adapted for formats. The Audio Publishing division produces audiobooks across genres, including original productions and adaptations of print titles in , , business, , and language learning. It has earned multiple Grammy nominations and awards for narrated works, reflecting investment in high-quality voice talent and production. Beyond these core divisions, Simon & Schuster manages distribution for over 100 independent publishers and clients, amplifying its market reach without altering the imprint-focused editorial model. Following the 2023 acquisition by KKR, the divisional structure has remained intact as a standalone entity, with no reported major consolidations or dissolutions of imprints as of 2025.

Key Personnel and Leadership

Jonathan Karp has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Schuster since May 2020, leading the company through its separation from Paramount Global and subsequent acquisition by KKR in August 2023 for $1.62 billion. On August 26, 2025, Karp announced his decision to step down from the CEO role to establish and oversee Simon Six, a new imprint publishing six books per year, while remaining in his position until a successor is identified; the board retained executive search firm Spencer Stuart to lead the process. Key divisional executives report to the CEO and manage core publishing operations. holds the position of President and Publisher of the Children’s Publishing Division, directing imprints including for Young Readers, Little Simon, and Margaret K. McElderry Books, with responsibility for titles targeting ages from infants to young adults. Jennifer Bergstrom serves as Senior Vice President and Publisher of the Gallery Group, overseeing adult imprints such as Gallery Books and Threshold Editions, which specialize in commercial fiction, memoirs, and current affairs. Perminder Mann was appointed Chief Executive of Simon & Schuster UK and International in February 2025, succeeding Ian Chapman and handling sales, marketing, and publishing across Europe, Australia, India, and other markets. Corporate functions are led by figures including Dennis Eulau, whose was announced on October 21, 2025, amid the CEO transition, with a replacement to be named alongside the new chief executive. The , reformed following the KKR acquisition, is chaired by Richard Sarnoff, Managing Director at KKR with prior media investments including OverDrive; other members include KKR partners Ted Oberwager and Glenda Chan, as well as publishing veterans Madeline McIntosh (former CEO of U.S.) and (former Chairman of ). This structure emphasizes operational continuity under oversight, with KKR representatives influencing strategic decisions such as expansion in digital and international markets.

Notable Contributions

Bestselling Authors and Landmark Publications

Simon & Schuster launched its publishing career with the Simon & Schuster Cross Word Puzzle Book in November 1924, the first collection of puzzles in book form, which sold approximately 400,000 copies within two months and established the viability of mass-market puzzle books. This debut title's success, driven by the emerging popularity of crosswords in newspapers, generated over $1 million in revenue for the fledgling company and set a precedent for innovative, accessible formats. Early nonfiction landmarks included by in 1926, which became a long-term by popularizing philosophical ideas for general readers and remaining in print for over 90 years with sales exceeding 3 million copies. In fiction, Joseph Heller's (1961) emerged as a defining satirical novel on war and , selling over 10 million copies worldwide and influencing and cultural lexicon. The 1970s and 1980s featured investigative journalism triumphs, notably All the President's Men (1974) by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, which detailed the Watergate scandal, sold more than 5 million copies, won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, and inspired the 1976 Academy Award-winning film adaptation. Woodward emerged as a perennial bestselling author with S&S, producing multiple No. 1 New York Times nonfiction hits like Fear (2018) and Peril (2021), often co-authored with Robert Costa, leveraging primary sourcing from White House insiders. Fiction highlights from this era included Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove (1985), a Pulitzer Prize-winning epic Western that sold over 1 million copies in hardcover and spawned a Emmy-winning miniseries. Later decades showcased diverse bestsellers, such as Thomas Keneally's (1982), which won the and sold millions, later adapted into Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning film; and Richard Rhodes's The Making of the Atomic Bomb (1986), a comprehensive history that earned the for nonfiction and . Contemporary authors driving sales include , whose romance novel (2016, Atria Books imprint) has sold over 20 million copies globally, fueled by virality and a 2024 film adaptation starring . Stephen King, through S&S imprints like Scribner, has delivered enduring bestsellers such as On Writing (2000), a memoir-craft hybrid that sold over 2.5 million copies and is widely regarded as a seminal guide for aspiring writers.
Landmark PublicationAuthorYearKey Achievement
Catch-221961Over 10 million copies sold; cultural term origin
& 19745+ million copies;
1982; film adaptation
1985; 1+ million hardcover sales
1986 for Nonfiction

Innovations in Publishing Formats and Distribution

Simon & Schuster's first publication, The Cross Word Puzzle Book in 1924, introduced the inaugural commercial collection of crossword puzzles, establishing an interactive puzzle format that diverged from traditional narrative publishing and contributed to the company's initial $100,000 in annual revenue. This innovation capitalized on the emerging popularity of crosswords in newspapers, bundling 50 puzzles with solutions and a miniature pencil, which sold 3,000 to 5,000 copies in the first printing despite initial skepticism from retailers. In 1939, Simon & Schuster partnered with Robert Fair de Graff to launch , America's inaugural mass-market publisher, which applied magazine-style high-volume printing and rack distribution to books for the first time. This format featured pocket-sized, 25-cent editions of classics and reprints, distributed through non-traditional channels like newsstands, drugstores, and dime stores, thereby broadening access beyond elite bookstores and fostering a democratization of reading. ' initial series of 10 titles, including works by and , exemplified this shift, enabling rapid scalability and cultural penetration. More recently, Simon & Schuster has advanced audio publishing with the January 2025 establishment of the Simon Maverick imprint, an audio-first line sourcing original content from self-published authors to exploit digital streaming platforms and expand beyond print legacies. Complementing this, the company's distribution infrastructure supports independent publishers via integrated , fulfillment, and production services, facilitating wider market entry without full-scale investments. These efforts reflect adaptations to digital ecosystems, prioritizing scalable, format-agnostic dissemination.

Controversies and Criticisms

Editorial Decisions and Free Speech Debates

In 2017, Simon & Schuster's Threshold Editions imprint signed a $250,000 book deal with provocateur for his memoir Dangerous, prompting widespread backlash from authors and activists who viewed his alt-right commentary as promoting . Following Yiannopoulos's controversial remarks defending relationships between older men and adolescent boys, which surfaced in videos, the publisher canceled the contract on February 20, 2017, citing that the content did not align with their standards. The decision fueled debates on whether publishers have a moral obligation to reject authors with offensive views or if such cancellations undermine free expression by yielding to mob pressure; free speech organizations like the National Coalition Against Censorship argued that boycotts and cancellations create a on publishing diverse perspectives. A similar controversy arose in January 2021 when Simon & Schuster terminated a planned publication of Senator Josh Hawley's The Tyranny of Big Tech, shortly after the Capitol riot, attributing the move to Hawley's encouragement of the electoral objection that preceded the unrest. Hawley publicly condemned the action as "," asserting it punished rather than content, while critics praised it as accountability for . This incident highlighted internal industry pressures, as the company faced no legal obligation to publish but drew accusations of selective , particularly against conservative voices, amid broader discussions on whether editorial choices reflect ideological bias rather than neutral business decisions. Tensions peaked in April 2021 with the announcement of a seven-figure deal for former Mike Pence's , leading over 200 Simon & Schuster employees to sign an internal petition demanding cancellation of books by Trump administration affiliates, framing them as enablers of . Despite staff protests and confrontations where employees expressed moral outrage, the company upheld the contract, with CEO defending the right to publish across the . Organizations such as and the National Coalition Against Censorship commended the refusal to bow to internal or external demands, arguing that rejecting the deal would erode publishers' independence and signal that market viability trumps viewpoint diversity. These events underscored a pattern where employee activism, often aligned with progressive sensibilities, clashed with corporate commitments to ideological pluralism, prompting scrutiny of whether such dynamics systematically disadvantage non-left-leaning authors in major houses. In November 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block Penguin Random House's proposed $2.175 billion acquisition of Simon & Schuster, arguing that the merger would reduce competition in the publishing industry and exert monopsony power over authors by lowering advances, particularly for anticipated books with advances exceeding $250,000. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in October 2022 that the deal violated Section 7 of the Clayton Act, granting a permanent injunction on the grounds that it would likely harm competition, reduce book output and quality, and suppress author compensation without sufficient countervailing efficiencies. Penguin Random House appealed but discontinued the effort in 2023 after Paramount Global terminated the agreement amid regulatory scrutiny. Simon & Schuster faced contractual disputes with authors over e-book royalties, exemplified by a 2016 filed by author Sheldon Blau, which alleged that the publisher systematically underpaid royalties by classifying digital as "sales" eligible for lower rates (typically 10-15% of net receipts) rather than "licenses" warranting higher rates (often 50% or more) under legacy contracts. The suit claimed this practice affected numerous authors whose agreements predated widespread e-book adoption and constituted a , seeking unspecified for miscalculated payments. While the case highlighted ambiguities in interpreting pre-digital contracts amid evolving distribution models, it did not result in a publicly detailed settlement or judgment that altered industry-wide practices. A notable cancellation dispute arose in 2017 when Simon & Schuster's Threshold Editions imprint terminated its contract with Milo Yiannopoulos for the memoir Dangerous following backlash over the author's comments on pedophilia in a podcast, invoking a morals clause that allowed rejection of material deemed unacceptable. Yiannopoulos sued for $10 million, alleging breach of contract and bad faith after receiving a $250,000 advance, but the publisher countered that he had accepted the termination by retaining the advance without prompt repayment. A New York court permitted parts of the suit to proceed, yet Yiannopoulos voluntarily dismissed it with prejudice in February 2018, receiving no payment from Simon & Schuster. Earlier, in 2013, Simon & Schuster engaged in a public contractual conflict with , which reduced orders for upcoming titles by up to 50% in some cases due to disagreements over promotional allowances and e-book terms, resulting in estimated lost sales of millions for affected authors. The dispute, rooted in retailer demands for favorable co-op rates amid shifting digital revenue shares, was resolved later that year through renegotiated terms, underscoring tensions in dependencies. Historically, Simon & Schuster challenged New York's "Sonny's Law" in 1991, a requiring of income from works describing crimes by convicted individuals, arguing it imposed a content-based financial burden violating the First Amendment. The U.S. struck down the law unanimously, ruling it discriminated against speech on crime-related subjects without advancing a compelling interest in victim compensation, thereby protecting publishers' rights to disseminate such material without targeted penalties. This decision established precedent against speaker-based restrictions on expressive income.

Business Operations and Industry Impact

Revenue Model and Financial Performance

Simon & Schuster's revenue model is predicated on the acquisition of rights from authors and creators, followed by the production, , and distribution of books across print, digital, and audio formats. The company earns primarily through wholesale sales to retailers such as Amazon and , channels, and subsidiary rights including foreign translations, film adaptations, and . Digital formats, encompassing e-books and audiobooks, have comprised a growing share, for 31% of total in the first quarter of 2015. Educational and professional segments contribute additional income via textbooks, testing materials, and reference works sold to institutions and libraries. Unlike subscription-based models in other media, Simon & Schuster relies on unit sales and advances recouped against royalties, with revenue streams diversified by imprints targeting , children's, and markets. Financial performance reached record levels in the early 2020s, driven by strong demand for trade amid pandemic-related reading surges. In 2021, revenues increased 10% to $993 million, with operating rising 52% to $213 million. The following year marked a , as revenues exceeded $1.1 billion for the first time, reflecting robust sales across categories. However, results softened in 2023 prior to the ownership transition; third-quarter revenues declined to $307 million from $353 million year-over-year, with operating falling correspondingly. Full-year 2023 figures remain undisclosed due to the company's shift to private ownership, though reports indicate a weak fourth quarter. The $1.62 billion acquisition by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), announced on August 7, 2023, and completed on October 30, 2023, transitioned Simon & Schuster to control, limiting public financial disclosures. KKR financed the deal through its Fund XIII with committed debt, positioning the publisher for operational efficiencies amid industry consolidation. In May 2024, the company sought a 90-day extension to file audited 2023 results and first-quarter 2024 data with lenders, signaling ongoing integration challenges. As of late 2024, detailed performance metrics for the post-acquisition period are not publicly available, though has emphasized strategic investments in bestselling titles to sustain profitability.

Role in Publishing Consolidation and Market Dynamics

Simon & Schuster has participated in the publishing industry's wave of consolidations since its acquisition by Gulf+Western in 1975, which facilitated expansion through subsequent mergers into larger media conglomerates, including Paramount Communications in 1989 and Viacom in the 1990s. This pattern mirrored broader industry trends where independent houses were absorbed into corporate entities, enabling scale in distribution and marketing but often prioritizing profitable imprints over niche publishing. By the early 2000s, as part of CBS and later Paramount Global, Simon & Schuster divested non-core assets like its educational divisions to Pearson in 1998, refocusing on trade books amid rising corporate synergies. In 2020, Paramount agreed to sell Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House for $2.175 billion, a deal that would have combined two of the "Big Five" publishers, potentially controlling nearly 50% of the U.S. trade book market by revenue and advances to authors. The U.S. Department of Justice sued to block the merger in November 2021, arguing it would reduce competition in bidding for anticipated top-selling books, exerting monopsony power over authors and likely lowering advances by 10-20% for many titles based on internal publisher data. A federal judge ruled against the merger in October 2022, citing evidence that Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster frequently competed head-to-head on advances exceeding $100,000, and the combination would eliminate this rivalry without sufficient countervailing efficiencies. This decision marked a rare antitrust intervention in publishing, halting further concentration among the Big Five, which already account for approximately 80% of U.S. trade book sales. Following the blocked deal, Paramount sold Simon & Schuster to KKR for $1.62 billion in August 2023, with the acquisition closing in October 2023. Under KKR's ownership, Simon & Schuster retains operational independence, preserving its roughly 9-11% market share in U.S. trade publishing and continuing to compete for authors against rivals like (25-37% share). This shift to introduces dynamics of cost discipline and potential resale after value enhancement, but industry observers note it avoids creating a dominant entity, maintaining bidding pressures that support author advances for high-potential books while the Big Five's oligopolistic structure already favors blockbuster titles over midlist works. Consolidation trends, including past mergers, have historically led to editorial efficiencies but also risks of reduced title diversity and series cancellations, as evidenced by post-merger patterns at other houses.

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  87. https://www.thefire.org/supreme-court/simon-schuster-inc-v-members-new-york-state-crime-victims-board-et-al
  88. https://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/digital-accounts-for-31-of-simon-schuster-revenue
  89. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/88544-s-s-sales-neared-1-billion-in-2021.html
  90. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/ss-reports-record-revenues-breaking-the-billion-dollar-threshold-for-the-first-time
  91. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-22/kkr-backed-simon-schuster-asks-to-delay-to-financial-results
  92. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-08-08/what-the-sale-of-a-major-american-book-publisher-means-for-authors-the-industry-and-you
  93. https://apnews.com/article/simon-schuster-kkr-book-publishing-penguin-random-house-797c3f383bfc1e60ea9a9bd48c6abfab
  94. https://isbndb.com/blog/the-big-five-publishers/
  95. https://publicknowledge.org/readers-would-be-harmed-by-further-book-mergers/
  96. https://wordsrated.com/the-big-five-publishers-statistics/
  97. https://slate.com/business/2023/08/simon-schuster-kkr-private-equity-publishing-consolidation.html
  98. https://authorsguild.org/news/ag-statement-on-proposed-sale-of-simon-schuster-and-its-ramifications-for-authors/
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