Random U.S. Sales Stalled in 2004
Company also agrees to a Google test
by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 4/18/2005
Random House's sales in the U.S. held even, at about $1.33 billion, in 2004, according to parent company Bertelsmann's annual report. Separately, Random said that it has agreed to test the Google Print program.
The American market accounted for 58.6% of Random's total sales in the year of $2.22 billion (1.79 billion euros), down from 66.3% in 2003. The addition of Heyne in Germany boosted Random's share of the German market to 11.0% and expansion into Asia brought totals in countries outside of Europe to 19.0%. Notwithstanding Random's global expansion, English-language publishing worldwide generated 85.6% of total revenue in 2004, German-language publishing contributed 11.9% and Spanish 2.6%. Earlier this year, Random reported that despite generally flat global sales, operating profits rose 22%: the company does not break out earnings by market segment.
Random is one of the few large publishers not already participating in Google Print. Last week, the company announced that it "has entered into a short-term pilot agreement" with Google that will authorize Google "to scan and store a limited number of books of our selection." The pilot will serve "as a test to determine whether or not we will become an ongoing participant in their Google Print program," the Random statement read.
