HarperCollins sales up 8.1% as Big Four’s market share shrinks

In the UK, HarperCollins’ consumer sales grew 8.1% in value in 2017, while the Big Four’s total market share dipped slightly, reports the Bookseller.

The combined sales for the Big Four—comprising Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette and Pan Macmillan—totalled £744.8m (A$1.32bn), or 46.8% of the market, down from 47.8% in 2016.

HarperCollins’ ‘blistering year’ was attributed to bestsellers by David Walliams and Tony Ross, newcomers Joanna Cannon and Gail Honeyman, and ‘nice returns from seasoned hands’ such as Nigel Slater and George R R Martin. Its consumer market sales value of £119.9m (A$211.9m) is the publisher’s best total in four years.

Two of the Big Four—Hachette and Pan Macmillan—lost sales in 2017 after ‘monster’ years in 2016 by J K Rowling and Joe Wicks, respectively. Hachette was down 8.3% to £193.2m (A$341.5m) and Pan Macmillan was down 10.5% to £69.42m (A$122.7m).

To see the Bookseller’s full analysis of the 2017 performances of the big four publishers, click here. For the analysis of independent publishers, click here.

Category: International news