Books Market Size, Share & Trend Analysis Report By Type (Science, Historical, Mystery, Fantasy, Literary, Contemporary/Realistic, Romance, Educational, Comic, Others), By Format, By Distribution Channel, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

Research Methodology

A three-pronged approach was followed for deducing the books market estimates and forecasts. The process has three steps: information procurement, analysis, and validation. The whole process is cyclical, and steps repeat until the estimates are validated. The three steps are explained in detail below:

Information procurement: Information procurement is one of the most extensive and important stages in our research process, and quality data is critical for accurate analysis. We followed a multi-channel data collection process for books market to gather the most reliable and current information possible.

• We buy access to paid databases such as Hoover’s and Factiva for company financials, industry information, white papers, industry journals, SME journals, and more.
• We tap into Grand View’s proprietary database of data points and insights from active and archived monitoring and reporting.
• We conduct primary research with industry experts through questionnaires and one-on-one phone interviews.
• We pull from reliable secondary sources such as white papers and government statistics, published by organizations like WHO, NGOs, World Bank, etc., Key Opinion Leaders (KoL) publications, company filings, investor documents, and more.
• We purchase and review investor analyst reports, broker reports, academic commentary, government quotes, and wealth management publications for insightful third-party perspectives.

Analysis: We mine the data collected to establish baselines for forecasting, identify trends and opportunities, gain insight into consumer demographics and drivers, and so much more. We utilized different methods of books market data depending on the type of information we’re trying to uncover in our research.

• Market Research Efforts: Bottom-up Approach for estimating and forecasting demand size and opportunity, top-down Approach for new product forecasting and penetration, and combined approach of both Bottom-up and Top-down for full coverage analysis.

• Value-Chain-Based Sizing & Forecasting: Supply-side estimates for understanding potential revenue through competitive benchmarking, forecasting, and penetration modeling.

• Demand-side estimates for identifying parent and ancillary markets, segment modeling, and heuristic forecasting.

• Qualitative Functional Deployment (QFD) Modelling for market share assessment.

Market formulation and validation: We mine the data collected to establish baselines for forecasting, identify trends and opportunities, gain insight into consumer demographics and drivers, and so much more. We utilize different methods of data analysis depending on the type of information we’re trying to uncover in our research.

• Market Formulation: This step involves the finalization of market numbers. This step on an internal level is designed to manage outputs from the Data Analysis step.

• Data Normalization: The final market estimates and forecasts are then aligned and sent to industry experts, in-panel quality control managers for validation.

• This step also entails the finalization of the report scope and data representation pattern.

• Validation: The process entails multiple levels of validation. All these steps run in parallel, and the study is forwarded for publishing only if all three levels render validated results.

Books Market Categorization:

The books market was categorized into four segments, namely type (Science, Historical, Mystery, Fantasy, Literary, Contemporary/Realistic, Romance, Educational, Comic), format (Facial Hard Copy, E-Books, Audiobooks), distribution channel (Online, Local Book Shops, Retail Shops, Specialty Stores), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).

Segment Market Methodology:

The books market was segmented into type, format, distribution channel, and regions. The demand at a segment level was deduced using a funnel method. Concepts like the TAM, SAM, SOM, etc., were put into practice to understand the demand. We at GVR deploy three methods to deduce market estimates and determine forecasts. These methods are explained below:

Market research approaches: Bottom-up

• Demand estimation of each product across countries/regions summed up to from the total market.

• Variable analysis for demand forecast.

• Demand estimation via analyzing paid database, and company financials either via annual reports or paid database.

• Primary interviews for data revalidation and insight collection.

Market research approaches: Top-down

• Used extensively for new product forecasting or analyzing penetration levels.

• Tool used invoice product flow and penetration models Use of regression multi-variant analysis for forecasting Involves extensive use of paid and public databases.

• Primary interviews and vendor-based primary research for variable impact analysis.

Market research approaches: Combined

• This is the most common method. We apply concepts from both the top-down and bottom-up approaches to arrive at a viable conclusion.

Regional Market Methodology:

The books market was analyzed at a regional level. The globe was divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa, keeping in focus variables like consumption patterns, export-import regulations, consumer expectations, etc. These regions were further divided into twenty countries, namely, the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Benelux, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia & New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Brazil, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa.

All three above-mentioned market research methodologies were applied to arrive at regional-level conclusions. The regions were then summed up to form the global market.

Books market companies & financials:

The books market was analyzed via companies operating in the sector. Analyzing these companies and cross-referencing them to the demand equation helped us validate our assumptions and conclusions. Key market players analyzed include:

• Penguin Random House - Penguin Random House, a privately-held company based in New York City, U.S., was established in 2013 following an agreement between Pearson and Bertelsmann to merge their respective publishing companies, Penguin and Random House. Initially, Pearson and Bertelsmann held 25% and 75% ownership respectively, but Bertelsmann became the sole owner in 2020 after purchasing Pearson’s remaining stake. The company offers a wide range of fiction and non-fiction titles for both children and adults, and has also ventured into digital book publishing. It operates numerous divisions and imprints, including Penguin Publishing Group, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Penguin Random House Audio, Random House Publishing Group, Random House Children’s Books, and Penguin Young Readers. With a global presence and over 300 independent brands and imprints, Penguin Random House publishes 15,000 new titles and sells approximately 600 million print books, e-books, and audio books each year. As of 2020, the company employed over 10,000 people across its nearly 250 independent publishing houses and imprints worldwide. This extensive network and diverse portfolio underscore Penguin Random House’s significant role in the global book market.

• Hachette Book Group- Hachette Book Group, a division of Hachette Livre and a subsidiary of Lagardère, is based in New York City, U.S. It was established in March 2006 when Hachette Livre acquired Time Warner Book Group. The company primarily publishes children’s literature, fiction, non-fiction, and audio books, releasing nearly 300 children’s books, over 1400 adult books, and 700 audio book titles annually. Hachette Book Group distributes its books throughout the U.S. (48 states and District of Columbia) and has offices in several locations, including Nashville, TN; Lebanon, IN; Berkeley, CA; Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA; and Boston, MA. It also owns Hachette Book Group Canada, Inc., a Toronto-based publicity and marketing company. The company is associated with numerous publishing brands, such as Perseus Books; Little, Brown and Company; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Grand Central Publishing; Orbit; Hachette Books; Hachette Nashville; and Hachette Audio. It also has various distribution clients, including Chronicle Books, Disney Book Group, Phoenix International Publications, Abrams Books, Phaidon Press, Hachette UK, Kids Can Press, Marvel, Moleskine, Nicholas Brealey, Octopus Books, Yen Press, Quarto Publishing Group, and Quercus. As of 2020, Hachette Book Group employed over 1000 individuals across its numerous publishing houses and imprints in the U.S.

• HarperCollins Publishers - HarperCollins Publishers, a subsidiary of News Corp, is a global publishing company founded in 1817 and based in New York City. With a workforce of around 2000, it operates in 17 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, China, and India. The company boasts nearly 120 imprints and publishing houses worldwide. HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new titles annually in 16 languages and maintains a digital catalog of nearly 200,000 titles across various genres. Its imprints include HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand, and HarperCollins India, among others. The company’s publications span a wide range of categories, from biography, memoir, cookbooks, and religion to fantasy, science, fiction, business, mystery, romance, and self-improvement. It also offers an array of reference materials, including study guides, dictionaries, writing resources, travel guides, and college preparation books. In addition, HarperCollins provides a diverse selection of children’s books, including classic books, middle-grade readers, beginning readers, board books, chapter books, and picture books. HarperCollins Publishers continues to shape the literary landscape with its commitment to innovation and broad reach.

• Simon & Schuster, Inc.- Simon & Schuster, Inc., established in 1924 and headquartered in New York City, is a global publishing company that offers prints in children’s and adult fiction, non-fiction, and audio book publication. The company publishes nearly 2,000 titles annually under 35 different imprints, including Scribner, Atria Books, and Pocket Books, among others. It also has a unique set of children’s imprints such as Simon Spotlight and Little Simon. With approximately 1500 employees, Simon & Schuster operates in over 100 countries and territories worldwide, including India, Canada, the U.K., and Australia. The company sells its books and audio books through retail partners like Baker & Taylor and Amazon, and it also has a distribution program serving over 100 clients in various genres.

• Macmillan - Macmillan, a privately-held company established in 1843, is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, it publishes a broad range of adult and children’s books, including fiction, non-fiction, educational, and children’s books. Macmillan operates in over 70 countries with imprints in India, the U.S., the U.K., Germany, South Africa, and Australia. Its U.S. publishers include Macmillan Audio, Henry Holt and Company, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux, among others. Macmillan also publishes under the name Pan Macmillan in India, the U.K., Australia, and South America. It has a separate division of imprints for children’s publications, such as Swoon Reads and Starscape/Tor Teen. Macmillan has numerous distributed publishers, including The College Board and Bloomsburg USA. The company employs approximately 500+ people at its various publishing houses and distribution channels internationally.

• Pearson - Pearson, a public company established in 1844 and headquartered in London, England, offers content, print, digital services, and assessments to learners, employers, educational institutions, and governments. The company operates five business divisions: Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Higher Education, Assessment & Qualifications, and Workforce Skills. Pearson’s portfolio includes media brands like Peachpit, Addison-Wesley, Longman, and Scott Foresman. In 1998, Pearson acquired Simon & Schuster’s educational branch and combined it with its own educational branch, Addison-Wesley Longman, to form Pearson Education, which was renamed Pearson in 2011. The company is divided into two divisions: International and North America, with the latter accounting for nearly 60% of the company’s sales. Pearson employs over 20,000 people at its various publishing houses and distribution channels worldwide. The company offers its learning products and services globally, with offices across South America and Asia, and chat support based in the Philippines.

• Scholastic Inc - Scholastic Inc., established in 1920 and based in New York City, is a media and education company that publishes trade books and educational materials for schools, children, and parents. The company is a leading publisher of children’s print books, audiobooks, and eBooks, releasing 600 original titles annually. In 2020, over 50% of the company’s revenue came from its children’s book publishing and distribution division. Scholastic’s original publications include Harry Potter, The Bad Guys, The BabySitters Club, and The Hunger Games, and it also has licensed properties like Five Nights at Freddy’s and Pokémon. With over 8500+ employees, Scholastic serves customers in more than 165 countries, including the U.K., Australia, Ireland, India, and New Zealand, in 45 languages. The company fulfills around 20 million orders and ships almost 160 million books and educational products annually. Scholastic distributes its products online and through retail sales, trade channels, reading clubs, and fairs.

• Marvel - Marvel was incorporated in 1998 and is currently headquartered in New York City, U.S. In 2009, Marvel Entertainment was acquired by The Walt Disney Company, and now, it is a part of Disney’s Consumer Products segment. With a proprietary library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel and its subsidiaries are some of the world's most notable character-based entertainment corporations. Their characters are most recognizable and the oldest in the entertainment industry, including The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Captain America, Iron Man, The Avengers, X-Men, Blade, The Fantastic Four, The Punisher, Daredevil, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Ant-Man, Nick Fury, and Silver Surfer. The company licenses its characters for food and drinks, toys, garments, interactive games, electronics, homeware, stationery, gifts and novelties, footwear, and collectibles. It also licenses characters to publishers for use in foreign-language comic books and trade paperbacks, as well as to publishers all around the world for creating novels as well as activity and coloring books. The company has approximately 1900+ employees working at its various distribution, editing, and publishing centers internationally. Marvel’s comic books and paper publications are distributed through various channels such as traditional retail stores that include book stores and news stand, comic specialty stores, and on-subscription sales basis.

• Morris Publishing - Morris Publishing, a privately held company, was established in 1933 and is headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska, U.S. Morris Publishing is into the short-run book and self-publishing business. Moreover, the company provides books in numerous genres, including religion, poetry, children’s story books, and graphic novels. Additionally, Morris Publishing has a sister company Morris Press Cookbooks that is exclusively engaged in cookbook publishing. Morris Publishing provides paperback books in three binding options- plastic coil, perfect binding, and plastic comb. The company has over 140 employees associated with it through various distribution channels as well as production and publishing houses. Morris Publishing distributes its books across the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska, and some U.S. territories.

• IDW Publishing - IDW Publishing, a subsidiary of IDW Media Holdings Inc, is a privately held company based in San Diego, California. Established in 1999, the company is known for publishing graphic novels, comic books, art books, trade paperbacks, and tabletop games. It publishes popular titles from Star Wars, Hasbro’s Transformers, Lucasfilm’s G.I. Joe, My Little Pony, ViacomCBS’s Star Trek, SEGA’s Sonic The Hedgehog, Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Marvel Comics- Spiderman, Avengers & Captain Marvel. The company has several well-known imprints, including Blue Dream Studios, The Library of American Comics, Sunday Press Books, Yoe! Books, Worthwhile Books, Top Shelf Productions, and EA Comics. Nearly 80 IDW Publishing titles have made it to The New York Times Best Sellers list. The company has been recognized with 48 Eisner Awards and 27 Harvey Awards, the highest accolades in comic book publishing. With over 150 employees, IDW Publishing operates numerous publishing and distribution sites internationally. The company’s products are available globally through retail and online sales. As a leader in the publishing industry, IDW Publishing continues to make significant contributions to the world of entertainment.

Value chain-based sizing & forecasting

Supply Side Estimates

• Company revenue estimation via referring to annual reports, investor presentations, and Hoover’s.

• Segment revenue determination via variable analysis and penetration modeling.

• Competitive benchmarking to identify market leaders and their collective revenue shares.

• Forecasting via analyzing commercialization rates, pipelines, market initiatives, distribution networks, etc.

Demand side estimates

• Identifying parent markets and ancillary markets

• Segment penetration analysis to obtain pertinent

• revenue/volume

• Heuristic forecasting with the help of subject matter experts

• Forecasting via variable analysis

Books Market Report Objectives:

• Understanding market dynamics (in terms of drivers, restraints, & opportunities) in the countries.

• Understanding trends & variables in the individual countries & their impact on growth and using analytical tools to provide high-level insights into the market dynamics and the associated growth pattern.

• Understanding market estimates and forecasts (with the base year as 2023, historic information from 2018 to 2023, and forecast from 2024 to 2030). Regional estimates & forecasts for each category are available and are summed up to form the global market estimates.

Books Market Report Assumptions:

• The report provides market value for the base year 2023 and a yearly forecast till 2030 in terms of revenue/volume or both. The market for each of the segment outlooks has been provided on region & country basis for the above-mentioned forecast period.

• The key industry dynamics, major technological trends, and application markets are evaluated to understand their impact on the demand for the forecast period. The growth rates were estimated using correlation, regression, and time-series analysis.

• We have used the bottom-up approach for market sizing, analyzing key regional markets, dynamics, & trends for various products and end-users. The total market has been estimated by integrating the country markets.

• All market estimates and forecasts have been validated through primary interviews with the key industry participants.

• Inflation has not been accounted for to estimate and forecast the market.

• Numbers may not add up due to rounding off.

• Europe consists of EU-8, Central & Eastern Europe, along with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

• Asia Pacific includes South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania (Australia & New Zealand).

• Latin America includes Central American countries and the South American continent

• Middle East includes Western Asia (as assigned by the UN Statistics Division) and the African continent.

Primary Research

GVR strives to procure the latest and unique information for reports directly from industry experts, which gives it a competitive edge. Quality is of utmost importance to us, therefore every year we focus on increasing our experts’ panel. Primary interviews are one of the critical steps in identifying recent market trends and scenarios. This process enables us to justify and validate our market estimates and forecasts to our clients. With more than 8,000 reports in our database, we have connected with some key opinion leaders across various domains, including healthcare, technology, consumer goods, and the chemical sector. Our process starts with identifying the right platform for a particular type of report, i.e., emails, LinkedIn, seminars, or telephonic conversation, as every report is unique and requires a differentiated approach.

We send out questionnaires to different experts from various regions/ countries, which is dependent on the following factors:

• Report/Market scope: If the market study is global, we send questionnaires to industry experts across various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and MEA.

• Market Penetration: If the market is driven by technological advancements, population density, disease prevalence, or other factors, we identify experts and send out questionnaires based on region or country dominance.

The time to start receiving responses from industry experts varies based on how niche or well-penetrated the market is. Our reports include a detailed chapter on the KoL opinion section, which helps our clients understand the perspective of experts already in the market space.