The market research firm NPD Group has acquired Nielsen’s U.S. market information and research services for the book industry. The acquisition includes the U.S.-based BookScan, PubTrack Digital, PubTrack Higher Education, PubTrack Christian, Books & Consumers, PubEasy, and PubNet services.
Nielsen will continue to own Nielsen Book outside of the U.S. in nine countries and will also continue to provide operations support for NPD BookScan and the related U.S. services during a transition period. The Nielsen properties will form the core of NPD Book, a new practice for NPD, which already offers market research and business solutions for more than 20 industries.
Jonathan Stolper, senior v-p and global managing director for Nielsen Book, has been appointed president of NPD Book and all U.S.-based Nielsen Book employees have been offered the opportunity to join the NPD Book team.
“Industry expertise is a hallmark of NPD, and we are excited to add services for the book industry," said Karyn Schoenbart, president and COO of NPD. "Like many of our industries, publishing is experiencing rapid and dramatic change. By combining data and industry expertise, we will be able to give the industry a winning advantage in understanding and anticipating trends.”
