Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster is a Big Five global trade book publisher that acquires, edits, and distributes print, ebook, and audiobook titles for general consumers and provides worldwide distribution services for independent publishers across more than 200 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1924
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Simon & Schuster does
Simon & Schuster is one of the Big Five general-interest trade book publishers in the United States, founded in 1924 and headquartered in New York. The company acquires manuscripts largely through literary agents, edits, produces, markets, and distributes books in print, ebook, and audiobook formats across virtually all consumer genres — fiction, nonfiction, biography and memoir, thrillers, romance, science fiction, history, business, children's, and young adult. It operates multiple editorial imprints (Scribner, Atria, Gallery, Avid Reader Press, Simon Six, Simon Kids, Simon Teen) and sub-brands including Simon & Schuster Audio (audiobooks), Pimsleur (language learning), Archway Publishing (self-publishing services), and licensed programs for franchises such as Star Trek and Halo.
The company earns revenue through three primary streams: direct-to-consumer and retail sales of physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks via its own e-commerce site and third-party platforms (Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Audible, Spotify, Libro.fm); third-party distribution services for independent and hybrid publishers across more than 200 countries and territories; and licensing of publishing rights internationally and across formats (audio, film/TV, translation). Pricing is per-unit with promotional discounting on ebook deals and free shipping thresholds on its owned retail channel.
In 2024, KKR acquired Simon & Schuster from Paramount Global for approximately $1.8 billion, transitioning the company from public to private ownership under a single-asset sponsor. The publisher employs 1,001–5,000 people and operates internationally in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and the Netherlands following recent acquisitions. In March 2026, former Amazon executive Greg Greeley was appointed CEO, the first outside hire for the role, succeeding Jonathan Karp who launched the Simon Six imprint.
Simon & Schuster firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Simon & Schuster
- Legal name
- Simon & Schuster, LLC
- Website
- https://simonandschuster.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1924
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Simon & Schuster is a Big Five global trade book publisher that acquires, edits, and distributes print, ebook, and audiobook titles for general consumers and provides worldwide distribution services for independent publishers across more than 200 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Simon & Schuster industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audiobook Publishers (Trade & Consumer) (MPAJAIAA), Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing (MPAJAFAO), E-book Retail & Reading Platforms (Stores, Apps, Devices) (MPAJAMAA)
Keywords
Where Simon & Schuster is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Simon & Schuster business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Book Sales (Print, eBook, Audio): Simon & Schuster publishes and sells books across fiction, nonfiction, children's, and specialty categories through its own e-commerce site and third-party retail and digital platforms. Revenue is generated from the sale of physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks at published list prices and discounted rates.
- Global Distribution for Third-Party Publishers: Simon & Schuster provides worldwide sales and distribution services for independent and hybrid publishers, including publishers across more than 200 countries and territories, under distribution agreements. Revenue is generated through distribution fees and revenue-sharing arrangements with client publishers.
- Publishing Rights and Licensing: Simon & Schuster licenses publishing rights for its titles internationally and across different formats, generating royalties and licensing fees from foreign editions, audiobook rights, film/TV adaptation rights, and subsidiary rights sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Free shipping on Simon & Schuster e-commerce orders of $40 or more |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | eBook deals at discounted prices ranging from $1.99 to $3.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Audiobook downloads priced from $23.99 to $29.99 per title |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free ebook offer for new subscribers to the mailing list |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Simon & Schuster product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Simon & Schuster is a global general-interest trade book publisher that acquires, edits, produces, markets, and distributes books in print, ebook, and audiobook formats across virtually all consumer genres (fiction, nonfiction, biography, children's, young adult, business, and more). The company also operates Simon & Schuster Audio for audiobook production, Pimsleur for language learning, Archway Publishing for self-publishing services, and provides worldwide sales and distribution services for independent and hybrid publishers across more than 200 countries and territories.
Product overview
Simon & Schuster is a major book publishing company operating as a platform of multiple imprints and services. The core publishing business offers print, digital (ebook), and audio formats across diverse genres including fiction, nonfiction, biography, memoir, children's, teen, business, and more. Key imprints include Simon & Schuster (main imprint), Simon & Schuster Audio (audiobooks), Simon Six (new 2026 imprint), Atria Books, Scribner, Gallery Books, and Avid Reader Press. Related services include Pimsleur (language learning), Archway Publishing (self-publishing via Author Solutions), Simon Kids and Simon Teen (youth publishing), licensed programs for Star Trek and Halo franchises, and distribution services for independent publishers worldwide. The company also operates book retail through SimonandSchuster.com with direct-to-consumer sales of ebooks, audiobooks, and print books.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Simon & Schuster Audio: Audio publishing division producing and distributing audiobooks
- Simon Kids
- Simon Teen
- Archway Publishing
- Pimsleur
Products and services
- Simon & Schuster Trade Books Core publishing imprint offering print books and ebooks across fiction, nonfiction, biography, memoir, children's, teen, business, history, thriller, romance, science fiction, and other consumer genres for general trade readers.
- Simon & Schuster Audio Audiobook publishing division that produces and distributes audiobooks of new releases, bestsellers, and backlist titles, with downloads priced from $23.99 to $29.99 per title, available on multiple audiobook platforms.
- Pimsleur Language Learning Audio-based language learning program offering foreign-language instruction courses for consumers seeking self-paced language education.
- Archway Publishing Self-publishing service providing authors with publishing, editorial, marketing, and distribution support for independently produced books.
- Simon & Schuster Distribution Services B2B wholesale distribution service providing independent and hybrid publishers with global retail and digital distribution infrastructure, generating revenue through distribution fees and revenue-sharing arrangements.
- Simon Six Imprint Newly launched publishing imprint under Simon & Schuster, focused on distinctive non-fiction and thought-leadership titles.
Companies that use Simon & Schuster
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Simon & Schuster technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Simon & Schuster partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Xbox and Halo StudiosminorXbox and Halo Studios collaborated with Simon & Schuster Audio to produce an audio drama adaptation of the original Halo novel 'Halo: The Fall of Reach,' to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary. The adaptation features original voice actors Steve Downes as Master Chief, Jen Taylor as Cortana and Dr. Halsey, and Tim Dadabo as narrator. The audio drama is based on an updated version included in the 'Halo: The Master Chief Omnibus,' with pre-orders at $29.99 and a scheduled November 2026 release.
- Dolphin Entertainment and Copper BooksminorDolphin Entertainment launched a new publishing imprint in partnership with Copper Books, providing an end-to-end publishing pathway from editorial development to retail distribution through Simon & Schuster. Dolphin CEO Bill O'Dowd noted the partnership enables clients to go from initial idea to bookstore shelves nationwide, with potential for adaptation to screen through their production division.
- Delhi Police (India) and Penguin Random House IndiaminorIn March 2026, Penguin Random House India alongside Simon & Schuster India collaborated with Delhi Police to seize over 20,000 pirated books from a Rohini-based piracy racket, uncovering an illegal printing press and distribution network. This anti-piracy enforcement action targeted the sale of pirated bestsellers by international and Indian authors in Delhi markets.
- Radius Book GroupminorRadius Book Group published 'The Story Economy' by William Welser IV and uses Simon & Schuster for global distribution of the title, leveraging S&S's retail and wholesale distribution network to make the book available worldwide.
- Indigo River PublishingminorIndigo River Publishing released 'The Yoga of Marketing' by Jeanna Valenti, with global distribution through Simon & Schuster, using S&S's distribution infrastructure to reach retail and digital bookshelves globally.
- Health Communications IncminorHealth Communications Inc published 'The Peace Guidebook' alongside Simon & Schuster, indicating a co-publishing or distribution partnership for the title with Simon & Schuster's distribution infrastructure.
- 1888 Mills Globalminor1888 Mills Global, a textile company, launched a licensed children's product line featuring 'Chicka Chicka Boom Boom'-themed plush throws and beach towels in partnership with Simon & Schuster. Select programs pair products with the book for gifting and promotional placements, marking 1888 Mills' expansion into licensed children's products.
- Advantage | The Authority CompanycoreSimon & Schuster entered into a distribution agreement with Advantage | The Authority Company, the largest global hybrid business book publisher, under which Simon & Schuster handles worldwide sales and distribution for Advantage's core imprints. Advantage's founder described this as the company's biggest move in expanding its global footprint and providing authors with greater visibility through Simon & Schuster's distribution infrastructure.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Simon & Schuster competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Workman Publishing: Independent trade publisher focused on lifestyle, cooking, and gift books with strong backlist. A smaller-scale competitor to S&S in the specialty and gift book categories.
- Sourcebooks: Independent publisher with strengths in romance, women's fiction, and children's books—categories that overlap with several S&S imprints. A growing challenger in the trade space.
Others
- Audible (Amazon): Dominant audiobook distribution platform and a key channel for Simon & Schuster Audio titles. While not a direct publisher competitor, Audible is the most important partner/dependency in S&S's audio business and a key source of platform concentration risk.
Direct peers
- HarperCollins: Another Big Five trade publisher with comparable imprints across fiction, nonfiction, children's, and audio. HarperCollins competes directly with Simon & Schuster for bestselling authors and global distribution scale.
- Penguin Random House: The largest of the Big Five U.S. trade publishers and Simon & Schuster's closest peer, publishing across all major genres in print, digital, and audio formats with global distribution. Both compete head-to-head for literary agent manuscript submissions and retail shelf placement.
- Macmillan Publishers: Big Five trade publisher with overlapping imprints (e.g., Celadon, Flatiron, Henry Holt). Competes directly with S&S imprints like Scribner, Atria, and Avid Reader Press for literary fiction and nonfiction authors.
- Bloomsbury Publishing: U.K.-based trade publisher with a strong presence in fiction, nonfiction, children's, and academic publishing. Competes with S&S internationally, particularly through its Harry Potter imprint, and overlaps in U.K. and Commonwealth markets.
- Hachette Book Group: Big Five U.S. trade publisher with similar portfolio breadth across general interest, children's, and audio. Hachette is one of the five publishers Simon & Schuster is benchmarked against in the Big Five.
Broad incumbents
- Scholastic: Major publisher with a leading children's books business, comparable to S&S's Simon Kids and Simon Teen divisions. Overlaps significantly in children's and YA trade publishing categories.
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Publishing company with trade and education divisions, overlapping with S&S in trade publishing and Simon & Schuster's Educators & Librarians business for educational content.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Simon & Schuster social profiles
Digital presenceSimon & Schuster financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Simon & Schuster leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Simon & Schuster subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Simon & Schuster funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Simon & Schuster M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Simon & Schuster
What does Simon & Schuster do?
Simon & Schuster is a global general-interest trade book publisher that acquires, edits, produces, markets, and distributes books in print, ebook, and audiobook formats across virtually all consumer genres (fiction, nonfiction, biography, children's, young adult, business, and more). The company also operates Simon & Schuster Audio for audiobook production, Pimsleur for language learning, Archway Publishing for self-publishing services, and provides worldwide sales and distribution services for independent and hybrid publishers across more than 200 countries and territories.
Is Simon & Schuster a public or private company?
Simon & Schuster is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Simon & Schuster founded?
Simon & Schuster was founded in 1924. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Simon & Schuster based?
Simon & Schuster is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Simon & Schuster make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Book Sales (Print, eBook, Audio) is the primary driver. The others are global Distribution for Third-Party Publishers and publishing Rights and Licensing.
Who are Simon & Schuster's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Workman Publishing and Sourcebooks. Audible (Amazon) is listed as an others. Direct peers are HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Macmillan Publishers, Bloomsbury Publishing and Hachette Book Group. Broad incumbents are Scholastic and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Does Simon & Schuster have an API?
No public API is recorded for Simon & Schuster.
What industry is Simon & Schuster in?
Simon & Schuster's product category is Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAB, Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.), with a secondary code of MPAJAIAA, Audiobook Publishers (Trade & Consumer). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.