HarperCollins has just announced that their revenues in the second quarter of 2017 increased $20 million, or 4%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to the continued popularity of Jesus Calling and Jesus Always by Sarah Young and Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, strong sales from frontlist titles such as The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines, Chaos by Patricia Cornwell, The Midnight Gang by David Walliams and Settle for More by Megyn Kelly.
The publisher also reported that audiobook and e-book sales increased 3% compared to the prior year and represented 16% of Consumer revenues for the quarter.
Chief Executive Robert Thomson said, “In the second quarter, we saw the efficacy of our strategic reinvestment and digital diversification. Both were evident in our significantly increased operating profitability in the quarter, despite continued headwinds in print advertising. Results were driven by strong performance at our Digital Real Estate Services segment and meaningful revenues at HarperCollins, along with appropriate and ongoing management of the cost base at our news mastheads.
Michael Kozlowski is the Editor in Chief of Good e-Reader. He has been writing about audiobooks and e-readers for the past ten years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and Verge.