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HarperCollins Revenue Climbs 9% to $582 Million

News Corp's book publisher posted higher revenue and EBITDA in the quarter ended September 30, driven by demand across general trade and children's titles.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Media

Isometric editorial illustration of orderly stacks of blank-spined hardcover books on steel shelving in oxblood, teal, and mustard tones, evoking steady publishing demand.
HarperCollins revenue rose 9% to $582 million in the quarter ended September 30, as News Corp reported higher demand for general trade and children's books. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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HarperCollins reported a 9% rise in revenue to $582 million for the quarter ended September 30, according to News Corp's results. Its EBITDA increased 29% to $79 million compared with a year earlier.

Why it matters

The gains come after a prior-year $13 million write-off tied to the collapse of Baker & Taylor, and they signal continued consumer demand for books. For readers and the U.S. publishing market, the results reflect steady growth in digital and audiobook formats alongside print.

HarperCollins revenue rose 9% to $582 million and EBITDA rose 29% to $79 million versus the prior year's quarter, which included a $13 million Baker & Taylor write-off. Backlist titles made up 66% of consumer revenues, up from 65%, while free cash flow declined on the timing of collections and higher inventory.

The players

HarperCollins

HarperCollins is a major New York-based book publisher and a subsidiary of News Corp.

News Corp

News Corp is a global media company that owns HarperCollins, The Wall Street Journal, and other publishing and news properties.

Anthropic

Anthropic is an artificial intelligence company that agreed to a $1.5 billion copyright settlement and filed for a public offering.

The details

Revenue and EBITDA gains were attributed to strong demand for physical and digital books in general trade and children's categories. Audiobook growth was credited to a partnership with Spotify and efforts to improve audiobook profitability, while inventory was built ahead of the holiday selling season.

Timeline

  1. September 30: End of the quarter reported in HarperCollins results.

  2. October 26: Anthropic released a filing for a public offering.

  3. November 5, 2026: News Corp announces quarterly results and holds an earnings call.

  4. June 2027: HarperCollins' fiscal year 2027 ends.

Market Landscape

News Corp expects to begin receiving its share of Anthropic's $1.5 billion copyright settlement, tying HarperCollins' results to the growing wave of AI licensing deals with book publishers. The company is also pursuing copyright disputes with Perplexity and Brave, reflecting how publishers are seeking compensation as AI firms train on published works.

Strong backlist and audiobook demand suggests book buyers are continuing to purchase both older titles and audio formats. Readers may see steady pricing and availability for holiday-season titles as HarperCollins builds inventory ahead of the peak selling period.

The takeaway

Publishers are increasingly relying on backlist titles and audiobooks to drive revenue, a pattern that may shape which books stay available to readers. Watch for how AI licensing settlements affect publisher income in coming quarters.

What happens next

News Corp reports its next quarterly results and holds an earnings call on Wednesday, November 5, 2026.

Further reading

For broader context on how publishers are navigating new revenue streams, see Media coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by PublishersWeekly.

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