The Monopoly on American Reading

 Big Five Publishers Dominate While More Books Published Than Ever Before

May 23, 2021 – Despite more books published in the 5,000-year history of the printed word, America’s five largest publishing companies continue to dominate the market, an industry expert told the Retail Politics Podcast with Gerry Shields.

“These big New York houses account for a large majority of what gets published in the U.S.,” said Jane Friedman, publisher of The Hot Sheet newsletter, an essential guide to the publishing industry.

“It’s also what you see mostly stocked in bookstores,” she said. “Big publishers have the money and resources to really push these books into the hands of influencers, that includes reviewers.”

Book reading exploded during the pandemic as people were confined to their homes, Friedman said. Children’s books, mostly the young adult genre, led the way, she said. Readers also resorted to purchasing “backlisted” books, classics providing a guaranteed good read, Friedman said.