Counterpoint
Counterpoint Press is an independent literary publishing house and imprint of Catapult Book Group, publishing literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and graphic novels distributed globally by Penguin Random House to retail, academic, and library customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersBerkeley, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Counterpoint does
Counterpoint Press is an independent literary publishing house operating as a wholly owned imprint of Catapult Book Group, a strategic parent formed in 2016 when Counterpoint merged with Catapult. Headquartered at 20 Jay Street #704 in Brooklyn, New York, the company publishes literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and anthologies with thematic emphasis on current affairs, politics, counterculture, music, history, memoir, literary biography, religion, and philosophy. It was created in 2007 through the acquisition of three notable independent presses (Counterpoint, Shoemaker & Hoard, and Soft Skull Press) and now operates alongside sibling imprints Catapult, Soft Skull Press, and Hawthorne Books within the Catapult Book Group.
The company's product surface consists entirely of books — paperback editions typically priced between $14.95 and $17.95, hardcovers between $24 and $25, and ebooks between $11.99 and $14.99 — with paperbacks, hardcovers, and ebooks sold globally through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and independent bookstores. Physical distribution is handled exclusively by Penguin Random House, providing global retail reach that a press of its size (11-50 employees) could not replicate independently. Marketing is conducted through the company's website, social media (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram), and email newsletter. There is no technology platform, no AI capability, and no app or API offering; the underlying technology is traditional editorial and production publishing.
Revenue is generated through one-time book sales across consumer retail, academic and common reading programs, and library channels. Author acquisition occurs exclusively through recognized literary agencies, not unsolicited submissions. The company has published or currently publishes authors recognized with National Book Awards, PEN/Faulkner Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, Oscars for adapted screenplay, and National Humanities Medals, contributing to brand equity in the literary segment. Operating geographies are centered in the United States with global distribution reach; the company is privately held with no disclosed venture capital or private equity funding.
Counterpoint firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Counterpoint
- Legal name
- Counterpoint LLC
- Website
- https://counterpointpress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Counterpoint Press is an independent literary publishing house and imprint of Catapult Book Group, publishing literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and graphic novels distributed globally by Penguin Random House to retail, academic, and library customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Counterpoint industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing (MPAJAAAM)
Keywords
Where Counterpoint is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berkeley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Counterpoint business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Counterpoint Press generates revenue through the sale of physical books (paperback and hardcover) and ebooks. The company publishes literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and graphic novels, with distribution through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores via Bookshop.org.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Paperback editions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Counterpoint product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Counterpoint Press is an independent literary publishing house that acquires, edits, produces, and sells fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and anthologies in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats. The imprint focuses on current affairs, politics, counterculture, music, history, memoir, literary biography, religion, and philosophy, and sells through retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and independent bookstores with physical distribution handled by Penguin Random House.
Product overview
Counterpoint Press is an author-driven independent publishing house that operates as part of the Catapult Book Group, publishing literary fiction and nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and anthologies. Founded in 2007 through the acquisition of three independent presses (Counterpoint, Shoemaker & Hoard, and Soft Skull Press), it merged with Catapult in 2016. The company publishes under two main imprints: Counterpoint and Soft Skull Press, covering genres including current affairs, politics, counterculture, music, history, memoir, literary biography, religion, and philosophy. Books are distributed by Penguin Random House.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Soft Skull Press: Literary fiction and nonfiction publishing imprint acquired in 2007
- Hawthorne Books
- Catapult
Products and services
- Counterpoint Press (Imprint) The primary literary imprint publishing fiction and nonfiction, including history, memoir, literary biography, religion, philosophy, current affairs, politics, counterculture, and natural history, available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.
- Soft Skull Press Counterpoint's literary imprint acquired in 2007 and launched under Counterpoint LLC in January 2008, publishing cutting-edge literary voices across fiction, nonfiction, and genre-defying works.
Quantifiable outcome
- Authors have won National Book Award, PEN/Faulkner, National Book Critics Circle Award, Los Angeles Times Book Prize, The Hammett Prize, The Edgar Award, NAACP Image Award, Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and others
Companies that use Counterpoint
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Counterpoint technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Counterpoint partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CatapultcoreIn 2016, Counterpoint merged with Catapult, an independent press and publisher of an award-winning online magazine. Both are now part of Catapult Book Group.
- Soft Skull PresscoreSoft Skull Press is an imprint of Counterpoint, created in January 2008. Part of the Catapult Book Group family alongside Counterpoint and Hawthorne Books.
- Hawthorne BooksminorHawthorne Books is an imprint under Catapult Book Group, part of the Counterpoint/Catapult family of independent presses.
- AmazoncoreAmazon serves as a primary online retail channel for Counterpoint books, offering paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.
- Barnes & NoblecoreBarnes & Noble distributes Counterpoint books through both physical retail locations and online store, offering multiple formats.
- Bookshop.orgminorBookshop.org is an online platform supporting independent bookstores that distributes Counterpoint titles.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Counterpoint competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Graywolf Press: Independent literary nonprofit press publishing literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with a curatorial focus on diverse and innovative voices. Closest comparable to Counterpoint in mission, scale, and award-winning reputation (multiple National Book Award winners).
- Coffee House Press: Minneapolis-based independent literary press publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from both emerging and established authors. Comparable to Counterpoint in literary mission, small staff, and commitment to risk-taking literary work.
- Milkweed Editions: Independent nonprofit literary press publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with a focus on place, justice, and ecology. Comparable to Counterpoint in editorial mission, scale, and backlist-driven literary publishing model.
- Algonquin Books: Independent literary publisher of literary fiction and narrative nonfiction, with Hachette distribution. Directly comparable to Counterpoint in literary focus and trade distribution model, though now part of a larger parent.
- Melville House Publishing: Independent publisher of literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry known for political and countercultural titles. Strongly comparable to Counterpoint in editorial focus on politics, current affairs, and literary nonfiction.
- Akashic Books: Independent publisher focused on literary fiction and nonfiction, particularly urban literary fiction and noir. Comparable to Counterpoint in scale, independent ethos, and curated literary mission.
- Soho Press: Independent literary publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and crime fiction. Comparable to Counterpoint as a fellow independent literary press with similar scale and curatorial focus on literary quality.
- Tin House Books: Independent literary press publishing literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, originally tied to the Tin House literary magazine. Comparable to Counterpoint in curatorial mission, scale, and independent literary publishing ethos.
Broad incumbents
- Grove Atlantic: Independent literary publisher with a wide-ranging literary fiction and nonfiction catalog including literary classics and politically engaged titles. Comparable to Counterpoint in editorial mission but operates at larger scale and broader genre coverage.
Others
- Catapult (magazine and book group parent): Counterpoint's parent organization and fellow Catapult Book Group imprint, publishing an award-winning online magazine and literary books. Included as adjacent ecosystem participant; while technically a sibling, it illustrates the integrated portfolio strategy Counterpoint operates within.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Counterpoint social profiles
Digital presenceCounterpoint financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Counterpoint leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Counterpoint subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Counterpoint funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Counterpoint M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Counterpoint
What does Counterpoint do?
Counterpoint Press is an independent literary publishing house that acquires, edits, produces, and sells fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and anthologies in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats. The imprint focuses on current affairs, politics, counterculture, music, history, memoir, literary biography, religion, and philosophy, and sells through retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and independent bookstores with physical distribution handled by Penguin Random House.
Is Counterpoint a public or private company?
Counterpoint is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Counterpoint founded?
Counterpoint was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Counterpoint based?
Counterpoint is headquartered in Berkeley, United States, in the North America region.
How does Counterpoint make money?
One revenue line is on record: book Sales.
Who are Counterpoint's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Graywolf Press, Coffee House Press, Milkweed Editions, Algonquin Books, Melville House Publishing, Akashic Books, Soho Press and Tin House Books. Grove Atlantic is listed as a broad incumbent. Catapult (magazine and book group parent) is listed as an others.
Does Counterpoint have an API?
No public API is recorded for Counterpoint.
What industry is Counterpoint in?
Counterpoint's product category is Independent Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAM, Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.