PW: Hal Leonard Corp. Buys Stake in Applause Books

Hal Leonard Corp., one of the country's largest music print publishers, has acquired a majority stake in Applause Books, the New York City publisher best known for its titles on theater and cinema. Under terms of the agreement, Leonard will assume all distribution, marketing and sales functions, while Applause founder Glenn Young will remain publisher of the imprint. Young told PW he made the deal with Leonard because the business side of the operation was "devouring my time. I was being diverted from what I really love to do, and that is acquire and publish good books."

Applause will continue to publish about 25 new titles a year. Recent releases include William Shakespeare: A Popular Life by Garry O'Connor and Acting Shakespeare by John Gielgud. Founded in 1985, Applause has a backlist of nearly 400 titles, and none of its books has ever gone out of print.

Not included in the deal is the Applause Books store, located on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The store will be run under a new partnership between Young and Paul Sugarman, who also has been named president of Applause Books.