Also looming is a potential U.S. TikTok ban. The TikTok subcommunity, BookTok, along with Bookstagram (Instagram) and BookTube (YouTube), transformed the book world, from changing author marketing strategies to driving titles to best-seller lists. But BookTok could disappear unless TikTok is sold by its parent company, ByteDance, by early 2025. ByteDance asserts it won’t do so and recently sued, stating that the ban violates First Amendment rights.
No doubt, the Big Five is following the developments closely since in 2023, ByteDance started its own publishing company, 8th Note Press. Will 8th Note Press ultimately become a serious competitor in the traditional publishing market?
For now, the Big Five continue to dominate.
Here’s a look at the current breakdown of the major houses, their notable imprints, and a brief history of how they came to be and where they are now.
1. Penguin Random House
One of the largest and most diverse Big Five publishers. Initially founded in 1924, Penguin and Random House merged in 2013 to create the current incarnation, which publishes 70,000 digital and 15,000 print titles annually. Penguin Random House has over 300 imprints, including:
- Knopf Doubleday – This imprint has its own multiple imprints, as most within Penguin Random House do. Knopf is known for publishing hardcover within all fiction and nonfiction genres, and the smaller imprints beneath Knopf itself are dedicated to genres from classics to commercial fiction, to translation, and more. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code was published by Doubleday.
- Crown Publishing – Specializes in bestselling fiction and narrative nonfiction in categories such as biography, science, history, and politics. Authors published with Crown include Gillian Flynn, Andy Weir, Ernest Cline, and Michelle Obama, among many others.
- DK – Publishes illustrated reference and nonfiction books for children and adults. Jessica Biel and Kacie Rose are DK authors.
- Viking Penguin – Dedicated to both fiction and nonfiction across all genres. Viking authors include Jack Kerouac, Amy Tan, and Amanda Gorman.
2. HarperCollins
Founded in 1817, HarperCollins, in its current, worldwide formation, resulted from a multi-company merger finalized in 1990. The second largest of the Big Five, HarperCollins publishes 10,000 books per year and has operations in fifteen countries with 120 imprints, notably:
- AvonBooks – Dedicated to publishing romance of all kinds, including paranormal, erotica, fantasy, contemporary, and more. Avon authors include Meg Cabot and Mariana Zapata.
- Harlequin Enterprises – Focuses on women’s fiction and romance across all genres.
- Harper – HarperCollins’s flagship imprint publishing fiction and nonfiction across all genres. Mark Manson, Heather Morris, and Ann Patchett have all published with this imprint.
- Mariner Books – In 2021, HarperCollins acquired Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s publishing business. Mariner publishes Houghton Mifflin’s distinguished adult hardcovers and paperbacks. Mariner authors include Joy-Ann Reid and Paula Hawkins.
- William Morrow – Premier fiction and nonfiction publisher across genres.
3. Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster was founded in 1924. As of 2023, they were the third largest publisher in the United States. Simon & Schuster publishes approximately 2,000 titles annually. Their notable imprints include:
- Howard Books – Publishing fiction across genres, as well as nonfiction including biography and memoir. They also publish Christian living, inspirational, and gift books.
- Scribner – Publishing fiction and nonfiction across genres. Stephen King is often published under Scribner. Scribner also has published authors such as Annie Proulx, Frank McCourt, Don DeLillo, and many others. Recently, Scribner introduced a line of poetry releases.
- Emily Bestler Books – They’re “here to help you find the readership your talent merits.” Authors include Brad Thor, Hannah McKinnon, and Jacqueline Bublitz.
4. Hachette Livre
A Big Five publisher founded in 1826 Paris. In 1992, Hachette’s book publishing assets regrouped under a new company name: Hachette Livre. With over 200 imprints, it publishes an average of 15,000 titles annually.
- Grand Central Publishing – Focuses on fiction spanning from commercial to literary. David Baldacci and James Patterson have published recently with Grand Central.
- Little, Brown and Company – All genres are published under this imprint. Well-known authors include Luis Alberto Urrea, Elin Hilderbrand, and Renée Watson.
- Mulholland Books – An imprint within Little, Brown and Company, Mullholland is dedicated to publishing “books you can’t stop reading” no matter the genre. Jordan Harper and Walter Mosley publish with Mull oholland.
- Workman Publishing – Acquired by Hachette in 2021. Particularly known for What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
5. Macmillan Publishers
A Big Five publishing house originally founded in 1843. Its current organization was established in 2015 after company merges. Macmillan has over ten imprints and offices in seventy countries.
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux – Publishing fiction and nonfiction across genres, they also publish renowned poetry. Authors include Joan Didion and Jeffrey Eugenides.
- Picador – Publishing literary fiction and narrative non-fiction, and a platform for authors whose voices aren’t often heard. Publishes Anita Diamant and The Secret Barrister.
- St. Martin’s Press – Publishing fiction and nonfiction across genres. St. Martin’s authors include Dan Hampton and Ali Velshi.
Other Distinguished Publishing Houses
Scholastic
Founded as a magazine in 1920, they went on to publish their first book, a collection of student writing, in 1926. Scholastic is the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and educational texts. On average, they publish 600 titles per year with a presence in 115,000 schools. Three of Scholastic’s seventeen notable imprints are:
- Acorn – Publishing books for children ages four to seven.
- Klutz – Imprint for children’s books, most of which focus on activities or crafts.
- Graphix – Specializing in graphic novels, including Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series.
Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
Mainly an instructional and academic publisher. Founded in 1807 and was the first publisher of authors such as Melville and Poe. Notable imprints:
- Bloomberg Press – Mainly publishing financial and business texts.
- Capstone – A leading educational publisher of K-5 digital solutions, children’s books, and literacy programs.
- For Dummies – One of the most well-known instructional publishers. Publishing user-friendly instructional texts across all topics.
- Wiley-Blackwell – A research brand within Wiley Publishing. Provider of academic, scientific, and professional texts.
Oxford University Press
Mostly publishing journals of an academic nature, it is the largest university press in the world. They also publish updated editions of literary classics not initially published by Oxford. Founded in the sixteenth century.
Disney Publishing Worldwide
Founded in 1991. Publishing children’s books for all ages, along with adult titles. Disney Publishing Worldwide is the publishing subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
- Hyperion – Children’s book publishing imprint.
Union Square & Co.
Founded in 1949. Publishing a broad range of genres—books “with a point of view.” Acquired by Barnes & Noble in 2003 and rebranded from Sterling Publishing to Union Square & Co. in 2022.
- Union Square & Co. – Focusing on adult titles.
Abrams Publishing
Founded in 1949. They were the first publisher to specialize in art and illustrated books, having expanded across genres since.
- Amulet Books – Publishing novels, graphic novels, and nonfiction for young adults and middle grade.