Top 20 Book & Periodical Publishing Companies in 2023

Welcome to the world of publishing in 2023, where books and periodicals are still thriving despite the rise of digital media. In this dynamic industry, there are a handful of companies that have stood the test of time and remain at the forefront of innovation and creativity.

In this article, we will be exploring the top 20 book and periodical publishing companies in 2023. These companies have consistently delivered high-quality content to readers around the world, and have cemented their positions as industry leaders.

From traditional publishers to digital disruptors, this list covers a range of companies that have made a significant impact on the world of publishing. Whether you’re an avid reader, an aspiring author, or simply interested in the world of publishing, this list is sure to provide valuable insights into the industry’s leading players in 2023.

following are some of the largest and most well-known publishing companies that are likely to remain major players in the industry:

1. Penguin Random House
2. Hachette Livre
3. HarperCollins
4. Simon & Schuster
5. Macmillan Publishers
6. Wiley
7. Springer Nature
8. Scholastic
9. Pearson Education
10. Elsevier
11. Bloomsbury Publishing
12. John Wiley & Sons
13. Cambridge University Press
14. Oxford University Press
15. Taylor & Francis
16. Cengage Learning
17. SAGE Publications
18. Emerald Group Publishing
19. Wolters Kluwer
20. Hearst Magazines

Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House is a global publishing company that was formed in 2013 through the merger of Penguin and Random House.

With headquarters in New York City, Penguin Random House has a rich history dating back to 1935 and has published many notable authors, including George Orwell, John Grisham, and Toni Morrison.

Today, Penguin Random House is the world’s largest trade book publisher, with over 300 imprints across five continents. The company publishes a wide range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, and is committed to publishing diverse voices and perspectives.

Penguin Random House has also been at the forefront of innovation in the publishing industry, with a strong focus on digital publishing and a commitment to sustainability.

The company has launched several successful digital initiatives, including Book Country, which provides resources and support for self-publishing authors, and Bookish, an online book discovery platform.

Overall, Penguin Random House remains one of the most influential and successful publishing companies in the world, with a strong commitment to producing high-quality content and supporting authors and readers alike.

Hachette Livre

Hachette Livre is a French publishing company and one of the largest in the world. It was founded in 1826 and has since grown to become a major player in the global publishing industry.

Hachette Livre publishes a wide range of books, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and educational materials. The company is known for its focus on quality and innovation, and has a strong commitment to working with diverse authors and promoting cultural diversity.

In addition to its book publishing business, Hachette Livre also operates several other publishing imprints and subsidiaries, including Hachette UK, Hachette Book Group, and Little, Brown and Company.

Hachette Livre has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry, with a strong focus on developing new digital platforms and services for readers and authors.

The company has launched several successful digital initiatives, including a digital publishing platform for self-publishing authors, and has invested heavily in developing new e-book and audiobook technologies.

Overall, Hachette Livre remains one of the most successful and influential publishing companies in the world, with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and cultural diversity.

HarperCollins

HarperCollins is a publishing company that was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in New York City. The company is known for publishing a wide range of books, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and cookbooks.

HarperCollins has a strong focus on working with diverse authors and promoting cultural diversity, and has published many notable authors such as Harper Lee, Neil Gaiman, and Veronica Roth. The company also operates several imprints, including William Morrow, Harper, and Avon Books.

In addition to its book publishing business, HarperCollins has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful digital initiatives, including HarperCollins 360, a digital platform that provides marketing and promotional support to authors, and HarperCollins Children’s Books Digital Studio, which creates interactive children’s books for digital platforms.

Overall, HarperCollins remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and diversity.

Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster is a publishing company that was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in New York City. The company publishes a wide range of books, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and educational materials.

Simon & Schuster has a long history of publishing notable authors, including Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, and Judy Blume. The company is also known for its focus on diversity and has worked with a wide range of authors from different backgrounds.

In addition to its book publishing business, Simon & Schuster has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has launched several successful digital initiatives, including Simon & Schuster Digital Originals, which publishes e-books and audiobooks by debut authors, and Simon & Schuster Audio, which produces audiobooks.

Simon & Schuster has also expanded into other areas of media, including film and television production. The company has worked with several major studios to adapt its books into films and TV shows, including the popular series “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Overall, Simon & Schuster remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong commitment to quality, diversity, and innovation.

Macmillan Publishers

Macmillan Publishers is a publishing company that was founded in London in 1843 and is now headquartered in New York City. The company is known for publishing a wide range of books, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and educational materials.

Macmillan Publishers operates several imprints, including Farrar, Straus and Giroux, St. Martin’s Press, and Henry Holt and Company. The company has a strong focus on quality and has published many notable authors, including J.D. Salinger, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Janet Evanovich.

In addition to its book publishing business, Macmillan Publishers has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful digital initiatives, including Macmillan Learning, which provides digital educational materials and tools for teachers and students, and Macmillan Audio, which produces audiobooks.

Macmillan Publishers is also known for its commitment to social responsibility and sustainability. The company has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including using sustainable paper and reducing waste in its operations.

Overall, Macmillan Publishers remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and social responsibility.

Wiley

Wiley is a publishing company that was founded in 1807 and is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey. The company is known for publishing academic and professional books, journals, and online resources, with a strong focus on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Wiley operates several imprints, including Wiley-Blackwell, Wiley-VCH, and Jossey-Bass. The company has a long history of publishing high-quality academic and professional materials, and has worked with many notable authors and organizations in these fields.

In addition to its book and journal publishing business, Wiley has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful online platforms and resources, including Wiley Online Library, which provides access to over 1,600 journals and 19,000 online books, and WileyPLUS, which offers online textbooks and interactive learning resources for students and teachers.

Wiley is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility. The company has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including using sustainable paper and reducing waste in its operations.

Overall, Wiley remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability in the fields of STEM education and research.

Springer Nature

Springer Nature is a publishing company that was formed in 2015 through the merger of Springer Science+Business Media and the Nature Publishing Group. The company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and operates in over 50 countries.

Springer Nature is known for publishing a wide range of academic and professional books, journals, and online resources in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM). The company operates several imprints, including Springer, Nature Research, and Palgrave Macmillan.

In addition to its book and journal publishing business, Springer Nature has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful online platforms and resources, including SpringerLink, which provides access to over 300,000 online books and 2,500 journals, and Nature.com, which offers news and analysis on science and technology.

Springer Nature is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility. The company has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including using sustainable paper and reducing waste in its operations.

Overall, Springer Nature remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability in the fields of STEM education and research.

Scholastic

Scholastic is a publishing company that was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in New York City. The company is known for publishing educational materials and children’s books, with a focus on promoting literacy and reading skills.

Scholastic publishes a wide range of books, including picture books, middle-grade novels, and young adult fiction. The company is known for its popular book series, including Harry Potter, Goosebumps, and The Hunger Games.

In addition to its book publishing business, Scholastic also operates several educational programs, including literacy and reading programs for schools and families.

The company has a strong commitment to promoting literacy and reading skills, and has worked with several organizations to support literacy programs around the world.

Scholastic has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry. The company has developed several successful digital initiatives, including Storia, a digital reading app for children, and Scholastic Learn at Home, an online resource for remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, Scholastic remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong commitment to promoting literacy, reading skills, and education for children around the world.

Pearson Education

Pearson Education is a publishing company that was founded in 1844 and is headquartered in London, UK. The company is known for publishing educational materials and services, with a focus on providing learning resources for schools, colleges, and universities.

Pearson Education publishes a wide range of educational materials, including textbooks, digital resources, and assessments. The company operates several imprints, including Pearson Higher Education, Pearson K-12 Learning, and Pearson English.

In addition to its publishing business, Pearson Education also provides educational services, including online learning platforms, teacher training and development, and educational consulting services.

The company has a strong focus on promoting access to education for all students, and has worked with several organizations to support education initiatives around the world.

Pearson Education has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the education industry.

The company has developed several successful digital platforms and resources, including MyLab and Mastering, which provide online resources and assessments for students, and Pearson Realize, which offers a digital learning platform for K-12 classrooms.

Overall, Pearson Education remains a major player in the global education industry, with a strong commitment to providing high-quality educational materials and services to students and educators around the world.

Elsevier

Elsevier is a publishing company that was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company is known for publishing academic and professional books, journals, and online resources, with a focus on the fields of science, technology, and medicine (STM).

Elsevier publishes a wide range of materials, including textbooks, reference works, and research papers. The company operates several imprints, including Cell Press, Lancet, and Academic Press.

In addition to its publishing business, Elsevier has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful online platforms and resources, including ScienceDirect, which provides access to over 16 million scientific articles, and Scopus, which offers abstract and citation databases of research papers.

Elsevier is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility. The company has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including using sustainable paper and reducing waste in its operations.

Overall, Elsevier remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability in the fields of STM education and research.

Bloomsbury Publishing

Bloomsbury Publishing is a publishing company that was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in London, UK. The company is known for publishing a wide range of books, including fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, with a focus on promoting diverse and underrepresented voices.

Bloomsbury Publishing has published many notable authors, including J.K. Rowling, Khaled Hosseini, and Elizabeth Gilbert. The company operates several imprints, including Bloomsbury Academic, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, and Bloomsbury Reader.

In addition to its book publishing business, Bloomsbury Publishing has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful online platforms and resources, including Bloomsbury Digital Resources, which provides online resources and e-books for libraries and institutions.

Bloomsbury Publishing is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility. The company has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including using sustainable paper and reducing waste in its operations.

Overall, Bloomsbury Publishing remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong commitment to promoting diverse and underrepresented voices, innovation, and sustainability.

John Wiley & Sons

John Wiley & Sons, commonly known as Wiley, is a publishing company that was founded in 1807 and is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey.

The company is known for publishing academic and professional books, journals, and online resources, with a strong focus on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Wiley publishes a wide range of materials, including textbooks, reference works, and research papers. The company operates several imprints, including Wiley Blackwell, Wiley-VCH, and Jossey-Bass.

In addition to its publishing business, Wiley has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful online platforms and resources, including Wiley Online Library, which provides access to over 4 million scientific articles, and WileyPLUS, which offers online textbooks and interactive learning resources for students and teachers.

Wiley is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility. The company has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including using sustainable paper and reducing waste in its operations.

Overall, Wiley remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability in the fields of STEM education and research.

Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press is a publishing company that was founded in 1534 and is headquartered in Cambridge, UK. The company is part of the University of Cambridge and is the oldest publishing house in the world.

Cambridge University Press publishes a wide range of academic and professional books, journals, and online resources, with a focus on the fields of science, technology, medicine, humanities, and social sciences.

The company operates several imprints, including Cambridge University Press, Cambridge English Language Teaching, and Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

In addition to its publishing business, Cambridge University Press also provides educational services, including online learning platforms, teacher training and development, and educational consulting services.

The company has a strong focus on promoting access to education for all students, and has worked with several organizations to support education initiatives around the world.

Cambridge University Press has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful digital platforms and resources, including Cambridge Core, which provides access to over 40,000 e-books and 400 journals, and Cambridge English Online, which offers online English language learning resources.

Overall, Cambridge University Press remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong commitment to providing high-quality educational materials and services to students and educators around the world.

Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press is a publishing company that was founded in 1586 and is headquartered in Oxford, UK. The company is part of the University of Oxford and is the largest university press in the world.

Oxford University Press publishes a wide range of academic and professional books, journals, and online resources, with a focus on the fields of science, humanities, social sciences, and law. The company operates several imprints, including Oxford University Press, Oxford Academic, and Oxford English Language Teaching.

In addition to its publishing business, Oxford University Press also provides educational services, including online learning platforms, teacher training and development, and educational consulting services.

The company has a strong focus on promoting access to education for all students, and has worked with several organizations to support education initiatives around the world.

Oxford University Press has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful digital platforms and resources, including Oxford Scholarship Online, which provides access to over 20,000 academic e-books, and Oxford English Dictionary Online, which offers online access to the English language dictionary.

Overall, Oxford University Press remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong commitment to providing high-quality educational materials and services to students and educators around the world.

Taylor & Francis

Taylor & Francis is a publishing company that was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in London, UK. The company is known for publishing academic and professional books, journals, and online resources, with a focus on the fields of science, technology, medicine, humanities, and social sciences.

Taylor & Francis publishes a wide range of materials, including textbooks, reference works, and research papers. The company operates several imprints, including Routledge, CRC Press, and Taylor & Francis Journals.

In addition to its publishing business, Taylor & Francis has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry. The company has developed several successful online platforms and resources, including Taylor & Francis Online, which provides access to over 2,500 journals and 60,000 e-books.

Taylor & Francis is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility. The company has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including using sustainable paper and reducing waste in its operations.

Overall, Taylor & Francis remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability in the fields of academic and professional publishing.

Cengage Learning

Cengage Learning is a publishing company that was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is known for publishing educational materials and digital learning solutions, with a focus on promoting student engagement and success.

Cengage Learning publishes a wide range of materials, including textbooks, digital learning solutions, and assessments. The company operates several imprints, including Gale, National Geographic Learning, and Wadsworth.

In addition to its publishing business, Cengage Learning also provides educational services, including online learning platforms, teacher training and development, and educational consulting services.

The company has a strong focus on promoting access to education for all students, and has worked with several organizations to support education initiatives around the world.

Cengage Learning has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the education industry.

The company has developed several successful digital platforms and resources, including MindTap, a personalized learning experience for students, and Cengage Unlimited, a subscription service that provides access to all Cengage digital learning resources for a flat fee.

Overall, Cengage Learning remains a major player in the global education industry, with a strong commitment to promoting student engagement and success through high-quality educational materials and services.

SAGE Publications

SAGE Publications is a publishing company that was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California.

The company is known for publishing academic and professional books, journals, and online resources, with a focus on the fields of social sciences, humanities, and science, technology, and medicine (STM).

SAGE Publications publishes a wide range of materials, including textbooks, reference works, and research papers. The company operates several imprints, including SAGE Publications, Corwin Press, and CQ Press.

In addition to its publishing business, SAGE Publications also provides educational services, including online learning platforms, teacher training and development, and educational consulting services.

The company has a strong focus on promoting access to education for all students, and has worked with several organizations to support education initiatives around the world.

SAGE Publications has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful digital platforms and resources, including SAGE Journals, which provides access to over 1,000 journals, and SAGE Research Methods, which offers online research resources and tools for researchers.

Overall, SAGE Publications remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability in the fields of academic and professional publishing.

Emerald Group Publishing

Emerald Group Publishing is a publishing company that was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Bingley, UK. The company is known for publishing academic and professional books, journals, and online resources, with a focus on the fields of business, management, and social sciences.

Emerald Group Publishing publishes a wide range of materials, including textbooks, reference works, and research papers. The company operates several imprints, including Emerald Publishing, Emerald Open Research, and Emerald Points.

In addition to its publishing business, Emerald Group Publishing also provides educational services, including online learning platforms, teacher training and development, and educational consulting services.

The company has a strong focus on promoting access to education for all students, and has worked with several organizations to support education initiatives around the world.

Emerald Group Publishing has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry.

The company has developed several successful digital platforms and resources, including Emerald Insight, which provides access to over 350 journals and 2,500 books, and Emerald Reach, which offers open access research and commentary.

Overall, Emerald Group Publishing remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability in the fields of academic and professional publishing.

Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer is a publishing company that was founded in 1836 and is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands. The company is known for providing professional information services and solutions to a wide range of industries, including healthcare, tax and accounting, legal, and finance.

Wolters Kluwer publishes a wide range of materials, including books, journals, and online resources. The company operates several imprints, including CCH, Legal & Regulatory, and Health Learning, Research & Practice.

In addition to its publishing business, Wolters Kluwer also provides software and services to support professional practice, including healthcare clinical decision support and compliance solutions, tax and accounting software, legal practice management software, and financial research and analytics tools.

Wolters Kluwer has also been at the forefront of digital innovation in the publishing industry. The company has developed several successful digital platforms and resources, including UpToDate, a clinical decision support system for healthcare professionals, and CCH Axcess, a cloud-based tax and accounting software solution.

Overall, Wolters Kluwer remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong focus on providing high-quality professional information services and solutions to a wide range of industries.

Hearst Magazines

Hearst Magazines is a publishing company that was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in New York City. The company is a division of Hearst Corporation and is known for publishing a wide range of popular magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, and Oprah Magazine.

Hearst Magazines publishes a wide range of magazines, including fashion, lifestyle, health, and entertainment publications. The company operates several imprints, including Hearst Health, Hearst Autos, and Hearst Enthusiast Group.

In addition to its magazine publishing business, Hearst Magazines also provides digital media and marketing services, including content creation, social media marketing, and influencer marketing.

The company has a strong focus on audience engagement and has developed several successful digital platforms and resources, including websites, mobile apps, and social media channels.

Hearst Magazines is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility. The company has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including using sustainable paper and reducing waste in its operations.

Overall, Hearst Magazines remains a major player in the global publishing industry, with a strong focus on engaging and entertaining readers through its popular magazine publications and digital media and marketing services.

In conclusion, the top 20 book and periodical publishing companies in 2023 represent a diverse range of publishing sectors, including academic and professional publishing, educational publishing, magazine publishing, and more.

These companies have a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability in their respective industries, and many have been at the forefront of digital innovation, developing successful online platforms and resources to enhance their publishing offerings.

Additionally, these companies have a strong focus on promoting access to education and promoting diverse and underrepresented voices, supporting educational initiatives and social responsibility.

Overall, these companies continue to play a major role in shaping the global publishing industry and providing readers with high-quality content and resources.