RBMedia

The Book of Quint novel prequel to JAWS sells out of first printing within 2 months

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Total Film, Research, Ebook, Social media, History, Rest, Amberley Publishing, RBMedia, Book

ATLANTA, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In February 1974, Peter Benchley published his debut novel, Jaws. It became an instant best seller, and the rest was history. Fifty years later in 2024, history has repeated itself.

Key Points: 
  • On 50th anniversary of Peter Benchley's novel Jaws, a new literary addition to the Jaws universe.
  • ATLANTA, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In February 1974, Peter Benchley published his debut novel, Jaws.
  • The Book of Quint, a novel prequel to Jaws, sold out of its first printing in only two months after a world-wide release.
  • Fans of both the book and movie Jaws have taken to bookshops around the world in search of what many are calling a "masterpiece" and "perfect prequel".

Playaway Products New Spanish-language Audiobooks Will Help Libraries and Schools Serve Multilingual Communities

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 4, 2023
Technology, Children, Audio, Video, Continuing, Preschool, Consumer, Primary, Secondary, Education, Consumer Electronics, RBMedia, Literacy, Catalog, Organization, Collection, Sea, Multimedia, Digital divide, Penguin Random House, Library, Wonderbook, School, Young adult, Book, Publishing

(Photo: Business Wire)

Key Points: 
  • (Photo: Business Wire)
    Despite Spanish being the most spoken non-English language in U.S. homes,1 many libraries have a limited selection of Spanish content.
  • “Playaway Products is committed to helping schools and libraries evolve alongside their communities, which is why we’re expanding our multilingual content offering,” explained Gene LaMarca, Playaway Products CEO.
  • The new collection of Playaway Audiobooks will help schools and libraries adapt to their communities and meet the needs of native Spanish speakers, heritage speakers, and Spanish students alike.
  • Playaway Products also plans to build relationships with organizations that promote literacy and Spanish-language content and is currently exploring partnerships with additional Spanish publishers to access more titles.

Audiobooks Market to grow by USD 10.91 billion from 2022 to 2027, Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc. to be key players of the boost market- Technavio

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Fantasy, Amazon (company), Music, Amazon Kindle, RBMedia, Apple Inc., Science fiction, Kindle, Channel, Bonnier, FREE, USD, KUKU, Barnes, Internet, History, Student, Geography, Paperwhite, Apple, Growth, Alphabet Inc., BYOD, Publishing, Scribd, Amazon, Alphabet

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The audiobooks market is estimated to grow by USD 10.91 billion from 2022 to 2027, growing at a CAGR of 25.32%.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The audiobooks market is estimated to grow by USD 10.91 billion from 2022 to 2027, growing at a CAGR of 25.32%.
  • Download FREE Sample before buying
    Alphabet Inc. - The company offers audiobooks under the subsidiary of Google LCC.
  • Barnes and Noble Booksellers Inc. - The company offers audiobooks for Historical fiction, horror books, fiction audiobooks, and Sci-Fi and fantasy audiobooks.
  • Rising Internet and smartphone penetration is the key factor driving the growth of the global music and video market.

Francisco Partners Joins Forces with H.I.G. Capital to Acquire and Invest in RBmedia

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Banking, Technology, Professional Services, Publishing, Entertainment, Communications, Books, Apps, Applications, Audio, Video, Media, Finance, LLP, Audiobook, Kirkland & Ellis, H.I.G. Capital, Partner, Catalog, Multimedia, KKR, Latham & Watkins, RBC Capital Markets, Acquisition, Francisco Partners, Audible, Apple, Google Play, Overdrive, Growth, RBMedia, Barclays, Video game, Storytel, Spotify

Francisco Partners, a leading global investment firm, specializing in technology and media-focused businesses, announced today that it has partnered with H.I.G.

Key Points: 
  • Francisco Partners, a leading global investment firm, specializing in technology and media-focused businesses, announced today that it has partnered with H.I.G.
  • Francisco Partners has extensive experience in audio and content publishing, technology and media and we believe audiobooks are at a positive inflection point.
  • is thrilled to collaborate with RBmedia's management team and Francisco Partners to usher the company into its next chapter.
  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal advice to Francisco Partners and Latham & Watkins LLP provided legal advice to H.I.G.

The sale of publisher Simon & Schuster is good news for staff and authors, but the long-term implications are uncertain

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Booktopia, Workforce, Audiobook, Justice, Ebook, Culture, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, KKR, Job satisfaction, Sale, Creativity, Amazon, School, McHardy, Publishing, Simon & Schuster, Audible, Penguin Random House, Century, CFO, Growth, RBMedia, Random House, Library, News, Ownership, Airline, Retail, New, Kindle, Industry, Overdrive

This must be a huge relief for staff and authors.

Key Points: 
  • This must be a huge relief for staff and authors.
  • For Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), Simon & Schuster is an attractive investment.
  • Founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster, the company is the fourth largest publisher in the United States.
  • It has published countless commercially successful and critically acclaimed authors, including Annie Proulx, Stephen King and Bob Woodward.
  • Between 2018 and July 2023, the firm owned RBMedia, the largest audiobook publisher in the world.

What does it mean for staff?

    • A merger with another publisher would have inevitably resulted in staff layoffs and redundancies.
    • The new buyer has expressed interest in supporting further growth of Simon & Schuster, domestically and internationally, as well as maintaining editorial independence.
    • KKR has successfully used this strategy since 2011 to improve engagement within more than 30 companies in its portfolio.

What does the future hold?

    • The deal secures Simon & Schuster’s future as a separate business entity.
    • This is good news not only for its workforce, but its authors.
    • It marks a welcome pause in the wave of mergers and acquisitions that started in the 1960s, transforming the landscape of trade publishing.
    • Industry consolidation has been associated with decreased competition in the marketplace, and diminished diversity and choice in the publishing landscape.
    • scale down workforce, liquidate assets, and reduce investment), and then resell at a profit.

KKR to Acquire Simon & Schuster from Paramount Global for $1.62 Billion

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 7, 2023
Communications, Professional Services, Public Relations, Investor Relations, Finance, LLP, BMG, Shearman & Sterling, RBMedia, Paramount Global, KKR, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Publishing, Simon & Schuster, Investment, CFO, Growth, LionTree, Epic Games, Book, Completion, Shearman, Video game, Media, Paramount

Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) and KKR today announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which KKR will acquire Simon & Schuster for $1.62 billion in an all-cash transaction.

Key Points: 
  • Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) and KKR today announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which KKR will acquire Simon & Schuster for $1.62 billion in an all-cash transaction.
  • "We are pleased to have reached an agreement on a transaction that delivers excellent value to Paramount shareholders while also positioning Simon & Schuster for its next phase of growth with KKR,” said Bob Bakish, President and CEO of Paramount Global.
  • “Simon & Schuster’s nearly 100-year history is a testament to the enduring value of creative expression through the written and spoken word.
  • KKR is making its investment in Simon & Schuster primarily through its North America Fund XIII and has secured fully committed financing for the transaction.

H.I.G. Capital Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire RBmedia

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Retail, Other Professional Services, Other Communications, Publishing, Technology, Books, Finance, Audio, Video, Communications, Professional Services, Online Retail, Asset Management, Other Retail, Other Technology, Specialty, Entertainment, Apple Books, Partnership, H.I.G. Capital, KKR, LionTree, RBC Capital Markets, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Goldman Sachs, Latham & Watkins, Audible, Google Play, Overdrive, Growth, RBMedia, Cryptocurrency, Storytel, Scribd, Spotify

Capital (“H.I.G.”), a leading global alternative investment firm with $58 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that one of its affiliates has signed a definitive agreement to acquire RBmedia (the “Company”), the world’s leading publisher in audiobooks and spoken content, from KKR.

Key Points: 
  • Capital (“H.I.G.”), a leading global alternative investment firm with $58 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that one of its affiliates has signed a definitive agreement to acquire RBmedia (the “Company”), the world’s leading publisher in audiobooks and spoken content, from KKR.
  • RBmedia’s management team, led by CEO Tom MacIsaac, will continue to lead the Company and remain as shareholders in the business.
  • “The audiobook industry is at a unique inflection point and RBmedia is well positioned to capitalize on the numerous tailwinds present in the industry,” said Tom MacIsaac, CEO of RBmedia.
  • will help take RBmedia to even greater heights.”
    The transaction is expected to close in 2023 and is subject to customary regulatory approval.

H.I.G. Capital to Acquire RBmedia from KKR

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Communications, Public Relations, Investor Relations, Partnership, Audiobook, H.I.G. Capital, Catalog, Multimedia, KKR, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, RBC Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs, Acquisition, Growth, LionTree, News, RBMedia, Cryptocurrency, Media

will acquire RBmedia and support its next phase of growth and development.

Key Points: 
  • will acquire RBmedia and support its next phase of growth and development.
  • RBmedia is the leading audiobook publisher in the world with a powerful digital distribution network that reaches millions of listeners around the globe.
  • During this period, RBmedia also experienced five years of double-digit revenue growth, invested in diverse content and expanded into international markets.
  • Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets acted as financial advisors, and Latham & Watkins LLP provided legal advice, to H.I.G.

New Book-to-Screen Adaptations of Major RBmedia Franchises Launch

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 12, 2023
Intelligence in the American Revolutionary War, Life, Lord, Season, The Lord of the Rings, Conrad, Storytel, Starz, Diary, Jeremiah, Amazon, ITunes, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Summer, Audible, Google Play, Netflix, RBMedia, House of Fraser, Publishing, Bridgerton, The New York Times, Spotify, Outlander

LANDOVER, Md., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- RBmedia, the largest audiobook publisher in the world, today announced that new book-to-screen adaptations of some of its biggest franchises will launch over the coming months. RBmedia publishes the audiobooks for many of the most anticipated film, TV, and streaming releases—including Outlander, Bridgerton, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Key Points: 
  • Over the last three decades, Outlander has become a worldwide phenomenon, with a following of millions of readers and audiobook listeners.
  • The popularity of Bridgerton has catapulted Julia Quinn's books to the top of multiple New York Times bestseller lists.
  • Troy Juliar, Chief Content Officer for RBmedia said, "Legions of fans who can't wait to discover what happens next in these series are now enjoying the audiobooks.
  • RBmedia audiobooks are available for download on Audible, Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Audiobooks.com, and everywhere digital audiobooks are sold.

RBmedia's Multicast Production of "The Whitewash" Named Audiobook of the Year by ABIA

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Steps, Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year, ABIA, Whitewashing in film, Whitewash, Australian Book Industry Awards, Life, RBMedia, History, Love, Humour, Audiobook, Publishing, Entertainment

LANDOVER, Md., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RBmedia, the largest audiobook publisher in the world, today announced that its production of "The Whitewash" by Siang Lu won Audiobook of the Year at the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA). "The Whitewash" audiobook was published by RBmedia's Australian brand, Wavesound.

Key Points: 
  • Siang Lu's debut is a dark comedy about the whitewashing of the Asian film industry, told in the form of a documentary.
  • Wavesound brings Siang's award-winning novel to life in audio with a multicast production starring the author and more than a dozen other voice actors.
  • The multicast audiobook embodies the goals of "The Whitewash," which champions better and more representation for Asian actors.
  • Yen Nguyen, one of the key voice actors for the audiobook said, "'The Whitewash' was a dream project.