2019 best ever year for publishing
27 July 2020
The Publishers Association published its 2019 Yearbook on 22 July 2020. It
contains statistical analysis of publisher revenue for consumer,
education, and academic books and journals with 100+ accompanying
tables and graphs. 2019 was publishing's best year ever with total
publishing sales reaching £6.3bn and growth across every
sector.
The report is available to purchase for £95 or if you are a
member of the Publishers Association, you can download it for free
from their Members' Area.
Nielsen Book Research compiled and analysed the Yearbook
data from various statistics schemes.
In its press release of 22 July 2020, the
Publishers Association said that:
The invoiced value of UK publisher sales of books, journals and
rights/coeditions combined rose to £6.3bn in 2019, 4% higher than
in 2018 and 20% higher than in 2015.
The Publishers Association's new figures show growth in both
print and digital sales income. Exports remain crucial to the
success of the industry, with export sales income accounting for
59% of total sales income.
Key statistics from the Publishers Association Yearbook 2019
include:
- Print sales income up 3% to £3.5bn
- Digital sales income up 4% to £2.8bn
- Home sales income up 4% to £2.4bn
- Export sales income up 3% to £3.7bn
- Consumer audiobook downloads sales income up 39% to £97m
- Non-fiction and reference sales income up to 6% to £1bn
Stephen Lotinga, CEO of the Publishers Association, said:
"Before the coronavirus pandemic the UK's publishing industry
was flourishing with 2019 being the strongest year in the history
of publishing. These robust figures reflect people's ongoing need
and desire for books.
"The UK publishing industry was on course to be worth £10bn by
2030 before coronavirus, but that will only happen now if the
government properly supports our recovery. This means ensuring
there is a fair market for books - particularly support for
bookshops, avoiding a no-deal Brexit and providing vital funding
for schools and universities so they can buy the education
resources that students need to learn remotely.
"Our 2019 Yearbook figures tell a story of pre-Covid success,
but they do not reflect the significant challenges that publishers
have faced during this pandemic. Despite those difficulties, we
know that many people have continued to look to books for solace,
enlightenment and entertainment."
See also Katherine Cowdrey's article Publishers Association hails 'biggest year ever
for UK publishing' in latest report in The Bookseller of 23
July 2020.