Publishers Weekly‘s 5th annual U.S. Book Show was another sold-out success, held at a new venue at the New York Academy of Medicine and featuring a packed schedule.
The conference opened with a celebration of the Schomburg Center’s 100th anniversary, before transitioning to Jonathan Segura’s interview with Hachette’s David Shelley and Simon & Schuster’s Jonathan Karp. Their conversation covered everything from AI to DEI initiatives, book bans, and the importance of data collection.
A final question about the importance of independent publishers caught Karp by surprise. As he explained that his focus remained on his own company, Shelley noted that Hachette was happy to distribute many small presses—prompting Karp to graciously respond, “That’s a much better answer!” The pair concluded by offering advice to newcomers: “Make publishing better than it already is.”
What followed were a dozen talks and panels, with AI and the eternal challenges of book discovery emerging as common themes throughout the day. Keith Riegert, president of the Stable Book Group and CEO of Brooklyn-based independent publishing companies, Ulysses Press and VeloPress Books, delivered his now-annual presentation on navigating AI for publishers, with many specific recommendations for using it to improve internal operations, produce engaging marketing creative, and do some of the time-consuming tasks that humans aren’t likely to miss.
An audiobook panel moderated by Ed Nawotka explored the evolving landscape, touching on Spotify’s entry into the space, Audible’s continuing growth (children’s audio grew 22% in Q4 2024), Sourcebooks’ new audio initiatives, and developments on the horizon—including “immersive audio” experiences and a remaking of the Harry Potter audiobooks featuring the newest sound capture technology.
PW‘s John Maher moderated a particularly compelling panel on nurturing the next generation of publishing professionals, with insights from industry leaders Sally Kim, Sloan Harris, Emi Ikkanda, Christoph Paul, Davi Pillai, and Erinn McGrath. Their takeaways for aspiring publishers were clear: learn, listen actively, respect colleagues, interact meaningfully (especially in the office!), and above all, remain optimistic about books and the industry. And for those just starting their careers, one standout piece of advice was to find a peer group outside of one’s organization, to learn from others who may have similar experiences. 
The conference concluded with a panel on TikTok and BookTok, where panelists acknowledged the platform’s uncertain future, given that the June 19 deadline for a mandated sale has been extended once again. But everyone was excited by the promise of TikTok LIVE to boost awareness of authors, genres, and tropes–and generate book sales
As attendees filed out of the packed venue after a well-attended cocktail hour, the buzz was louder than ever–a reminder that publishers love what they do, and love to talk about it.
