Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House have purchased the publishing assets of Callisto Media, publisher of nonfiction adult and children's books. PRH, which bought 45% of Sourcebooks in 2019 and now has a majority stake in the company, funded the acquisition. Sourcebooks led the purchase and will manage the Callisto Media titles. Callisto's titles will continue to be distributed by Simon & Schuster Distribution Services.
Founded in 2011 by CEO Benjamin Wayne, Callisto has, said the companies, "taken a data-driven approach to publishing and grown into a top-15 publisher based on sales in the U.S. market. Callisto's proprietary algorithms leverage consumer data to determine the content consumers demand and where that demand is not currently met. Callisto's expansive nonfiction publishing list includes workbooks, cooking, health & wellness, relationships & personal growth."
Sourcebooks CEO Dominique Raccah said, "This acquisition brings together two of the most data-driven publishers in the industry to create a consumer-led organization that brings readers books that will change their lives in so many ways. This partnership also allows for an even greater level of innovation that will make an impactful difference for authors. We see data as an enormous creative power."
Callisto CEO Benjamin Wayne commented: "Callisto has been one of the fastest growing publishing companies in history and has reached over 50 million customers. The idea that we could determine through data what customers are really looking for and let them drive the books we create has served us incredibly well the past 10 years. I'm excited for Callisto to take the next step in its evolution as part of Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House, to continue delivering the kind of content that serves the underserved and helps them transform their lives."
PRH CEO Nihar Malaviya said, "Sourcebooks and Callisto have been two of the fastest growing publishers in the U.S., driven by their data-informed understanding of readers and their market-oriented publishing. Penguin Random House is thrilled to support in bringing these two dynamic publishers together under Dominique Raccah's exceptional leadership. Sourcebooks is known for their innovation and agility, and with this step, we look forward to furthering our unique and successful partnership with them."