Home 5 Articles and Reports 5 Bloomsbury Faces Risks Amid Blockbuster Reliance

Bloomsbury Faces Risks Amid Blockbuster Reliance

For Bloomsbury, success has long been tied to its ability to capitalize on authors who capture the public imagination. After rising to prominence with the Harry Potter series, the publisher has found a new golden ticket in Sarah J. Maas, whose “romantasy” novels dominate TikTok’s literary scene.

 

Maas’ influence goes beyond just book sales—it has significantly impacted Bloomsbury’s stock performance, which has soared over 160% in the past five years. The company’s shares peaked in October 2023, just nine months after the release of Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow. Last week, Bloomsbury announced that it had exceeded analysts’ revenue and profit expectations for the fiscal year, reinforcing the notion that investing in superstar authors can pay off handsomely.

 

However, as a character in Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood remarks, focusing too much on what everyone else is reading comes with risks. Bloomsbury’s continued reliance on a handful of top-performing authors has sparked concerns about its long-term sustainability. Market projections suggest that the publisher’s revenue for the current financial year is unlikely to surpass the record £342.7 million it achieved in 2023/24.

 

Like most consumer-driven businesses, Bloomsbury is susceptible to broader economic uncertainties. Additionally, book sales are gradually normalizing after the pandemic-induced boom, returning to pre-COVID levels. But the company’s biggest challenge remains its dependence on blockbuster authors.

 

For instance, there is currently no confirmed release date for Maas’ next novel, despite her contract to deliver six more books. This uncertainty creates volatility in Bloomsbury’s revenue streams, underscoring the risks of over-reliance on a select group of authors.

 

Recognizing the need for diversification, Bloomsbury has begun expanding beyond commercial fiction. Last year, the company made its largest-ever acquisition, purchasing U.S. academic publisher Rowman & Littlefield for $83 million. While higher education institutions in the U.K. and U.S. are facing budget constraints, Bloomsbury sees this as a temporary challenge and is betting on the continued global growth of student populations. Additionally, the publisher has been strengthening its digital academic publishing capabilities, aiming to build a more resilient revenue stream.

 

This strategic shift reflects Bloomsbury’s commitment to long-term stability, reducing its reliance on blockbuster authors while positioning itself as a key player in the evolving academic publishing landscape. By diversifying its portfolio and embracing digital innovation, the company aims to future-proof its growth and navigate industry fluctuations with greater resilience.

 

Recent News

16Jun
Beijing Book Fair 2025: Tech and Books Unite

Beijing Book Fair 2025: Tech and Books Unite

The 31st Beijing International Book Fair this month goes heavily into conferences and academic publishing. Asia’s biggest trade event has enjoyed double-digit growth in exhibitor numbers, with AI and STM topics high on the agenda at Beijing. The 31st Beijing International Book Fair, themed “Promoting Civilizational Inheritance and Development, Advancing Exchange and Mutual Learning for […]

12Jun
The UK launches annual awards for audio content

The UK launches annual awards for audio content

Two of the UK’s leading cultural publications – The Bookseller and The Stage – have announced the launch of The British Audio Awards aka The Speakies, a brand-new annual event celebrating outstanding achievement in audiobooks and audio drama.   The British Audio Awards will shine a spotlight on ‘the most innovative, moving, and masterfully produced […]

11Jun
Lords Defend Artists in AI Clash

Lords Defend Artists in AI Clash

In the UK, the House of Lords has dealt a fourth defeat to the government over its plans to allow tech companies to use copyrighted material to train their models. The Lords, who are looking for more protections for artists from AI, rejected the latest amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The BBC […]

Related Posts

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: The Writer Who Rebelled Against Language

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: The Writer Who Rebelled Against Language

With the passing of Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o in May 2025, the literary world bid farewell to one of Africa’s most influential voices, an author who reshaped the relationship between literature and identity, between the written word and colonial power. Ngũgĩ was...

Book Pricing in the Arab World

Book Pricing in the Arab World

Pricing books in the Arab world is a nuanced endeavor shaped by far more than printing costs alone. While the tangible expenses: paper, ink, binding, constitute a visible layer of the final price, deeper, less quantifiable forces often drive the true value ascribed to...

Will the printed book disappear from the Arab world?

Will the printed book disappear from the Arab world?

The Arab publishing industry is facing a growing crisis driven by the sharp surge in paper prices and printing costs. This escalation has directly impacted production volume and intensified pressure on publishing houses, particularly as most rely on imported...

Previous Next
Close
Test Caption
Test Description goes like this