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Simon & Schuster

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Simon & Schuster LLC
Company typePrivate
IndustryPublishing
Founded1 January 1924; 102 years ago (1924-01-01) in New York City, United States
FounderRichard L. Simon, M. Lincoln Schuster
Headquarters
New York City
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Jonathan Karp (CEO), Dennis Eulau (CFO)
ProductsBooks, audiobooks
OwnerKohlberg Kravis Roberts
Number of employees
1600 (2022)
Websitewww.simonandschuster.com

Simon & Schuster LLC () is a prominent American publishing firm that has been under the ownership of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts since 2023. Established in New York City in 1924 by founders Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster, it is recognized as one of the Big Five English-language publishers, alongside Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, and Macmillan Publishers. By 2017, Simon & Schuster ranked as the third-largest publisher in the United States, releasing approximately 2,000 titles annually through 35 distinct imprints. The company generated revenues exceeding $1.1 billion in 2022 and employs around 1,600 individuals globally. Its main office is situated in the Simon & Schuster Building in Manhattan, New York City. Leading the company’s global strategy and operations are CEO Jonathan Karp and CFO Dennis Eulau.

Founding period

The origins of the company trace back to 1924 when Richard Simon and Max Schuster noticed the absence of a book compiling New York World crossword puzzles, identifying an untapped niche. Simon had a background as a piano salesman, while Schuster worked as an editor for an automotive magazine. Together, they invested $8,000 to launch their venture with an initial focus on crossword puzzle books.[1] Their innovative "planned publishing" approach involved generating concepts first and then recruiting authors to produce content, rather than purchasing finished manuscripts.[2] By the 1930s, their operations had moved to "Publisher's Row" on Park Avenue in Manhattan.[2]

Growth and development

In 1939, Simon & Schuster played a pivotal role in establishing Pocket Books with Robert Fair de Graff, which became America’s inaugural paperback publishing house.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The company also partnered with Western Publishing in 1942 to introduce the Little Golden Books series.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Ownership changed hands when Marshall Field III acquired both Simon & Schuster and Pocket Books in 1944; following his passing in 1957, the company was repurchased for $1 million.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

During the 1950s and 1960s, Simon & Schuster broadened its scope into educational publishing to capitalize on the baby boom generation. Pocket Books shifted its focus towards educational paperbacks rather than traditional textbooks, launching the Washington Square Press imprint in 1959. By 1964, over 200 titles had been published under this imprint with plans to add an additional 400 titles within that year, including reissues of classics such as Lorna Doone and Huckleberry Finn.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The acquisition of Monarch Press Publishing in 1967 further expanded their catalogue with a substantial collection of college and high school study guides.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Following Richard Simon’s death in 1960 and Max Schuster’s retirement in 1966—when he sold his stake to Leon Shimkin—the firm consolidated Simon & Schuster with Pocket Books under the original name.[3][4] In 1968, editor-in-chief Robert Gottlieb departed for rival Knopf, taking several key staff members with him.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Simon & Schuster became part of Gulf+Western Industries through a stock exchange deal in January 1975.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Under CEO Richard Snyder, appointed in 1979, the company experienced significant expansion during subsequent years.[5]

Developments during the 1980s

After Gulf+Western’s leader Charles Bluhdorn passed away in 1983, the company shifted its strategic direction toward diversification. His successor Martin Davis identified educational publishing as a promising sector for stable and profitable growth.

Under CEO Richard E. Snyder, Simon & Schuster pursued aggressive expansion via acquisitions: it purchased educational publisher Esquire Corporation for $180 million in 1984; followed by acquiring Prentice Hall for more than $700 million in 1985—a transaction that marked a turning point for corporate transformation. Additional acquisitions included Silver Burdett (1986), map-making firm Gousha (1987), and Charles E. Simon (1988). Allyn & Bacon, obtained through the Esquire acquisition, became a cornerstone of Simon & Schuster’s education division. Between 1988 and 1990, California-based Quercus, Fearon Education, and Janus Book Publishers were added to its portfolio. Over this period from 1983 to 1991, the company invested upwards of $1 billion in acquisitions, considerably enlarging its share of the educational market.

Snyder also ventured into video publishing but encountered difficulties securing video rights licenses which constrained growth prospects within that area. This challenge prompted the establishment of Simon & Schuster’s audiobook division in 1985, which evolved into a significant revenue source by the following decade.

In 1989, Gulf and Western Inc., which owned Simon & Schuster at the time, rebranded itself as Paramount Communications Inc., reflecting changes in corporate structure and strategic emphasis.

1990s

In 1990, The New York Times recognized Simon & Schuster as the leading book publisher in the United States, reporting $1.3 billion in revenue. During that year, the company expanded by acquiring the children's book publisher Green Tiger Press.

By 1993, Simon & Schuster acquired Macmillan—encompassing imprints such as Scribner's, Free Press, and Jossey-Bass—for $552.8 million and operated under the name Paramount Publishing. The following year, Viacom purchased Paramount and reinstated the Simon & Schuster brand. In 1994, Jonathan Newcomb succeeded Snyder as president and COO. The firm also divested several non-core assets, including Charles E. Simon Co., and in 1996 sold Gousha to Rand McNally.

Venturing into software, Simon & Schuster took over Markt+Technik's software division in 1994 and established Simon & Schuster Interactive in collaboration with Davidson & Associates. This unit released titles like Outlaw Golf and EVE Online before ceasing operations in 2003.

In 1998, Viacom divested Simon & Schuster’s educational divisions—such as Prentice Hall, Macmillan, and Jossey-Bass—to Pearson plc, which integrated them into Pearson Education. Subsequently, Pearson sold off various segments: Appleton & Lange went to McGraw-Hill; Master Data Central was transferred to Master Data Center; Jossey-Bass was acquired by John Wiley & Sons; and the Bureau of Business Practice was sold to Wolters Kluwer. Macmillan Library Reference discontinued its children’s imprints while Gale purchased other units of Macmillan Library Reference. IDG Books acquired Macmillan General Reference, including Frommer's and J.K. Lasser titles; however, Complete Idiot's Guides later moved to Penguin Random House under Dorling Kindersley.

This decade was marked by strategic acquisitions and divestitures that significantly influenced Simon & Schuster’s operational focus and competitive stance within the publishing sector.

2000s

Simon & Schuster broadened its footprint in Canada in 2002 by purchasing distributor Distican and commenced direct publishing activities there by 2013.

At the close of 2005, Viacom underwent a corporate split resulting in CBS Corporation—which inherited Simon & Schuster and Paramount Parks—and a separate Viacom entity. That same year, Simon & Schuster acquired Strebor Books International, established by author Kristina Laferne Roberts (known by her pen name "Zane"). In 2006, the company launched Threshold Editions, a conservative-leaning imprint.

In 2009, Simon & Schuster entered a multi-book co-publishing agreement with Glenn Beck covering adult non-fiction, fiction, children’s literature, young adult books, e-books, and audiobooks. As part of CBS Corporation’s portfolio, Simon & Schuster became the principal publisher for books linked to CBS media properties such as CSI. Additionally, it held the license to produce Star Trek publications through its Pocket Books imprint.

2010s

In 2011, Simon & Schuster expanded co-publishing collaborations including a deal with Glenn Beck for his Mercury Ink imprint and a partnership with Cash Money Records under the Atria imprint. The following year, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, Simon & Schuster, and other publishers over alleged e-book price-fixing intended to undermine Amazon’s market dominance.

That same year saw a restructuring of Simon & Schuster's imprints into four primary groups: Atria, Scribner, Simon & Schuster Publishing Group, and Gallery Publishing Group—aimed at enhancing editorial specialization and operational cohesion. Additionally, Archway Publishing was introduced as a self-publishing division.

In 2013, a co-publishing agreement was signed with former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter to establish Jeter Publishing. Later that year, Simon & Schuster resolved antitrust allegations by contributing to a compensation fund for customers impacted by price-fixing.

By 2014, the company secured a multi-year e-book distribution agreement with Amazon and unveiled Simon451—a speculative fiction imprint concentrating on science fiction and fantasy titles with an emphasis on digital formats and online fan engagement. The imprint’s name alludes to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, which is also among the company’s published works.

In 2015, Simon & Schuster diversified its offerings through North Star Way—an imprint and platform delivering authors enhanced services beyond conventional publishing such as online education courses, sponsorship opportunities, and multimedia content designed to boost audience interaction. Michele Martin, founder and publisher of North Star Way, highlighted its mission to assist authors in expanding their reach via multiple media outlets. This initiative illustrates the company's proactive approach in adapting to changing author requirements and market dynamics.

Further digital expansion occurred in 2016 with the launch of SimonSays.com for online video courses alongside Scout Press for literary fiction under Gallery Books Group. The company also entered into a distribution agreement with Start Publishing LLC adding approximately 7,000 e-book titles to its catalog. By this period, Simon & Schuster's e-book inventory exceeded 18,000 titles.

In 2019, following the merger of CBS and Viacom forming ViacomCBS (later rebranded as Paramount Global in 2022), Simon & Schuster became part of this expansive media conglomerate—strengthening its international reach and influence within the publishing industry.

2020s

In March 2020, ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish revealed intentions to divest Simon & Schuster, citing its limited alignment with the company's core operations. Although the sale was initially projected to finalize within 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant delays.

By September 2020, the German media conglomerate Bertelsmann, which owns Penguin Random House, announced its interest in purchasing Simon & Schuster, highlighting the acquisition's importance in consolidating the global publishing market. Other potential buyers included Vivendi, proprietor of Editis, and News Corp, owner of HarperCollins. ViacomCBS set a deadline for receiving offers by November 26, 2020.

On November 25, 2020, ViacomCBS reached an agreement to sell Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House for $2.175 billion, with the transaction expected to close in 2022. Nevertheless, a U.S. federal judge blocked the deal in October 2022 due to antitrust issues. Bertelsmann appealed the decision but ultimately withdrew from the acquisition in November 2022.

In 2021, Simon & Schuster secured book contracts with former Trump administration figures such as Vice President Mike Pence and advisor Kellyanne Conway, which sparked internal dissent among employees. Later that year, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit aimed at preventing Penguin Random House's takeover of Simon & Schuster over concerns about market dominance. The successful legal challenge prompted Paramount to terminate the agreement.

In 2022, employee Filippo Bernardini was apprehended for his involvement in literary phishing scams; the company publicly condemned these fraudulent actions.

By mid-2023, HarperCollins partnered with investment firm KKR emerged as leading contenders to acquire Simon & Schuster. In August 2023, Paramount Global consented to sell the publisher to KKR for $1.62 billion; this transaction was completed on October 30, 2023.

In May 2024, Simon & Schuster broadened its presence in non-English-speaking markets by acquiring Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK), the largest Dutch publishing house, including its imprints and subsidiaries such as Thinium (audiobook production) and Bookchoice (a subscription-based e-book and audiobook platform). Subsequently, in September 2024, Simon & Schuster Australia announced plans to acquire Affirm Press.

These strategic acquisitions and divestitures illustrate Simon & Schuster's ongoing transformation toward a globally focused business model aimed at expanding market reach under new ownership.

Editors and publishers

Authors

Simon & Schuster has published thousands of works by numerous distinguished authors, many of whom have made significant impacts on the literary marketplace with bestselling titles (exceeding sales of 3,000 copies). Notable authors include:

The emblem of Simon & Schuster, referred to as "The Sower," takes its design cues from Jean-François Millet's 1850 artwork and serves as a central symbol of the company's brand identity. Former editor Michael Korda has noted that the colophon is a miniature version of The Sower by Sir John Everett Millais, symbolizing the publisher's deep-rooted tradition in the literary world.

Adult publishing

  • Adams Media, headquartered in Avon, Massachusetts
  • Atria Publishing Group
    • 37 INK, dedicated to African-American and diverse authors
    • Atria Books, general interest publishing
    • Atria Español, Spanish-language titles aimed at U.S. Hispanic readers
    • Atria Unbound, digital editions of Atria's catalog
    • Beyond Words Publishing, a joint venture focused on mind-body-spirit genres
    • Cash Money Content, collaboration with Cash Money Records
    • Emily Bestler Books, offering both fiction and nonfiction
    • Enliven Books, specializing in spiritual and wellness literature
    • Howard Books, Christian-themed publications
    • Keywords Press, works by internet celebrities
    • Marble Arch Press, co-publishing partnership with the UK-based Short Books
    • One Signal Publishers, nonfiction imprint founded by Julia Cheiffetz
    • Simon Element, nonfiction covering essential topics
    • Strebor Books International, focusing on African-American and Black Erotica
    • Washington Square Press, paperback editions of classics and contemporary works
  • Avid Reader Press
  • Gallery Books Group
    • Gallery Books, general interest publishing house
    • Karen Hunter Publishing, established by journalist Karen Hunter
    • Mercury Ink, co-publishing venture with Glenn Beck and Mercury Radio Arts
    • MTV Entertainment Books (previously MTV Books), targeting young adult and pop culture markets
    • North Star Way Books, inspirational nonfiction with author services included
    • Pocket Books, mass market paperback imprint
    • Pocket Star, an imprint dedicated exclusively to ebooks
    • Scout Press, literary fiction publisher
    • Threshold Editions, conservative political imprint
    • Twelve, known for focused month-long book releases
    • Gallery 13, specializing in graphic novels
  • Scribner, publisher of both fiction and nonfiction titles
  • Simon & Schuster (flagship imprint)
    • Folger Shakespeare Library editions
    • Simon451, speculative fiction and fantasy imprint
    • Saga Press, specializing in science fiction and fantasy genres
    • Summit Books, relaunched in 2024 following earlier operation from 1976 to 1991

Children's publishing

  • Aladdin, producing picture books and chapter books for middle-grade readers
  • Atheneum, known for literary middle-grade, young adult, and picture books
  • Beach Lane Books, San Diego-based picture book publisher founded in 2008
  • Little Simon, dedicated to children's literature
  • Margaret K. McElderry Books, boutique imprint for literary fiction and nonfiction aimed at children and teens
  • MTV Books, pop culture-focused imprint reintroduced in 2021
  • Paula Wiseman Books, publisher of picture books, novelty titles, and children's novels
  • Salaam Reads, imprint centered on Muslim children's literature
  • Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, the primary imprint within the Children's Division
  • Simon Spotlight, specializing in licensed children's properties

Audio

  • Pimsleur Language Programs, courses designed for language acquisition
  • Simon & Schuster Audio, division focused on audio publishing

Former imprints

  • Archway (children’s imprint later integrated into Aladdin Paperbacks)
  • Bookthrift (budget-friendly reprints, no longer active)
  • Earthlight (UK-based science fiction imprint, discontinued)
  • Downtown Press (specialized in women’s fiction, now defunct)
  • Fireside Books
  • Free Press
  • Green Tiger Press
  • Half Moon Books
  • Inner Sanctum Mysteries
  • Linden Press
  • Long Shadow Books
  • Minstrel Books (children’s imprint absorbed into Aladdin Paperbacks)
  • Poseidon Press (active from 1982 to 1993)
  • Richard Gallen Books
  • Simon & Schuster Interactive (operated between 1995 and 2003)
  • Simon Pulse, a teen-focused publisher launched in 1999 as Pocket Pulse and renamed in 2001
  • Sonnet Books
  • Tiller Press (concentrated on practical nonfiction such as diet, wellness, and home design)
  • Touchstone Books (stopped releasing new titles as of December 2018)
  • Wallaby Books

See also

Further reading

  • "Simon & Schuster Inc." International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 4, pp. 671–672.
  • "Simon & Schuster Inc." International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 19, pp. 403–405.

External links

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