The Big Merge: Experts Weigh In on the Random House/Penguin deal

In this month’s edition of our print magazine (featuring our snappy new redesign), I take a look at the announced-last-year merger of publishing powerhouses Penguin and Random House.

While info out of the two houses is expected to be on lock-down until all the paperwork goes through and regulators are pleased, we asked some experts with a set of unique perspectives on how the merger will affect the publishers involved and the industry at large to weigh in.

While perspectives differ, one of the most common areas of interest is technology and data: Will the merger help or hinder the two houses impressive track records for innovation? Will the real innovation that comes out of this deal, and further consolidation, come not out of the big houses but out of displacement on the fringes.

We asked Peter McCarthy, Michael Norris, Michael Cairns and Peter Brantley what they expected to come out of the merger. You can read what they had to say at bookbusinessmag.com or in our digital edition, available as a free iOS app.