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International Literary Properties (ILP) is a global company that invests in, acquires, manages and enhances representatives to help realise the value of literary properties, protect their legacy and create new opportunities.
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
OVERVIEW Last year opened with doubts about whether publishers could sustain the stellar sales of locked-down 2020 and 2021, especially as costs soared and supply problems ended with the best print performance in (non-lockdown) history. These eight publishers had exceptional years across the board, though most notably in TikTok-driven Adult Fiction. After years of talk, they all took big steps towards making publishing more diverse and sustainable as well.
BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING Bloomsbury is shortlisted for the fifth time in six years, after a sharp rise in its revenue and share price. It launched two lists—Bloomsbury Tonic for wellbeing and Bloomsbury Poetry, which won the T S Eliot Prize with Anthony Joseph (right)—and bucked e-book trends by growing sales. Its DEI work was among the best in the business.
DK DK once again flew under the radar in the trade, rarely trou- bling the bestseller lists but recording its best ever year and adding more than 500 books to its vast archive. It took the biggest share of a number of non-fiction Total Consumer Market (TCM) categories such as gardening and cookery, while travel books bounced back from a Covid-19 slump and DK’s rights sales boomed.
LITTLE, BROWN BOOK GROUP Little, Brown was yet again a star performer for Hachette in 2022, with double-digit TCM growth. It delivered Hachette’s three biggest books—from Colleen Hoover (right), Robert Galbraith and Delia Owens— and 28 different Sunday Times bestsellers across six imprints, of which Orbit and Sphere were standouts. TikTok was pivotal in many more hits.
SIMON & SCHUSTER The 2022 Publisher of the Year had another remarkable 12 months, with TCM sales up by a fifth to by far its highest point yet. It had three Colleen Hoover books in the overall chart’s top 15 and Taylor Jenkins Reid, Bob Mortimer, Elena Armas (right) and Adam Silvera were among others to crest 100,000 units. S&S’ author, staff and retailer care were all excellent.
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USBORNE Usborne celebrates its 50th birthday in 2023 after yet more TCM growth for its huge catalogue. Editorial director Fiona Watt moved closer to the £100m milestone through the TCM, and the See Inside series thrived. Another highlight was a CBE for founder Peter Usborne, whose independence and values remain as strong today as they were on found- ing the list in 1973.
HARPERCOLLINS HarperCollins grew its TCM share and was powered by Bella Mackie’s How to Kill Your Family, the fifth-biggest seller of 2022—and a Pageturner Nibbies contender (p10). HarperVoyager, HQ and Farshore, all in the running for Imprint of the Year, excelled and made genre publishing more mainstream. There were well over 100 Sunday Times top-10 places in all.
HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP Headline had its biggest TCM sales for a decade, plus inter- national and audio growth. It was down to a powerful fusion of literary stars such as Maggie O’Farrell, big brands including Jill Mansell and celebs, led by Matthew Perry. Bobby Palmer and Bolu Babalola (left) were among many rising stars, while marketing and publicity were consistently excellent.
THE ORION PUBISHING GROUP Orion, winner of this award in 2021, turned 30 last year. It took five books to the top of the Sunday Times lists, led by Adam Kay’s Undoctored and Richard Coles’ Murder Before Evensong, while stalwart brands such as Ian Rankin (below) and the Hairy Bikers delivered again. There were several good new initiatives on diversity and staff wellbeing.
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