View source for Random House

{{Short description|American general-interest trade book publisher}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Random House
| logo = [[File:Random House logo.svg|frameless]]
| logo_caption = Logo with the 2014 [[Penguin Random House]] wordmark
| parent = [[RCA Corporation|RCA]] (1965–1980)<br />[[Advance Publications]] (1980–1998)<br />[[Bertelsmann]] (1998–present)
| foundation = {{start date and age|1927}}
| founders = [[Bennett Cerf]], [[Donald Klopfer]]
| defunct = 
| fate = 
| successor = 
| location = [[Random House Tower]], 1745 [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]]
| hq_location_city = [[New York City]]
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| num_locations = 
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Gina Centrello ([[President (corporate title)|president]] and publisher, The Random House Publishing Group)<br />Barbara Marcus (president and publisher, Random House Children's Books)<br />Nihar Malaviya ([[Chief operating officer|COO]], Random House, Inc.)
| products = Books
| industry = 
| genre = 
| divisions = 
| revenue = {{profit}}€2.142 [[1,000,000,000 (number)|billion]] (2012)
| owner = 
| num_employees = 97,104 {{small|({{As of|2020|Sep|30|df=US|lc=y}})}}
| type = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| traded_as = 
| website = {{URL|https://www.randomhousebooks.com/|randomhousebooks.com}}
}}

'''Random House''' is an imprint and publishing group of [[Penguin Random House]].<ref name="Random House - Bertelsmann AG">{{Cite web |url=http://bertelsmann.de/Bereiche/Random-House.html |title=Random House – Bertelsmann AG |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603164501/http://bertelsmann.de/Bereiche/Random-House.html |archive-date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=August 13, 2012 |language=de |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Größter Buchverlag der Welt bekommt neuen Chef |date=May 20, 2008 |trans-title=Largest book publisher in the world gets new boss |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/buecher/random-house-groesster-buchverlag-der-welt-bekommt-neuen-chef-1546483.html |agency=[[Reuters]] |work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130822042601/http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/buecher/random-house-groesster-buchverlag-der-welt-bekommt-neuen-chef-1546483.html |url-status=live |archive-date=August 22, 2013 |access-date=August 21, 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.randomhouse.biz/about/factsandfigures/ |title=Randomhouse.biz – About Us |date=December 31, 2011 |access-date=August 12, 2013 |website=Business Solutions |publisher=Random House |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501170617/http://www.randomhouse.biz/about/factsandfigures/ |url-status=live |archive-date=May 1, 2013  }}</ref> Founded in 1927 by businessmen [[Bennett Cerf]] and [[Donald Klopfer]] as an imprint of [[Modern Library]], it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the following decades, a series of acquisitions made it into one of the largest publishers in the [[United States]]. In 2013, it was merged with [[Penguin Group]] to form Penguin Random House, which is owned by the [[Germany]]-based media conglomerate [[Bertelsmann]]. Penguin Random House uses its brand for Random House Publishing Group and Random House Children's Books, as well as several imprints.

==Company history==
===20th century===
Random House was founded in 1927 by [[Bennett Cerf]] and [[Donald Klopfer]], two years after they acquired the [[Modern Library]] [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]] from publisher Horace Liveright, which reprints classic works of literature. Cerf is quoted as saying, "We just said we were going to publish a few books on the side at random", which suggested the name Random House.<ref>[http://c250.columbia.edu/c250_celebrates/remarkable_columbians/bennett_alfred_cerf.html C250.columbia.edu] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408223715/http://c250.columbia.edu/c250_celebrates/remarkable_columbians/bennett_alfred_cerf.html |date=April 8, 2016 }}, Bennett Alfred Cerf Biography</ref> 

In 1934, they published the first authorized edition of [[James Joyce]]'s novel ''[[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]]'' in the Anglophone world.<ref>{{cite book|title=The most dangerous book: the battle for James Joyce's Ulysses|first=Kevin|last=Birmingham|location=London|publisher=Head of Zeus|year=2014|isbn=9781784080723}}</ref> ''Ulysses'' transformed Random House into a formidable publisher over the next two decades. In 1936, it acquired Smith and Haas, and Robert Haas became the third partner until retiring and selling his share back to Cerf and Klopfer in 1956. The acquisition of Smith and Haas added authors, including [[William Faulkner]], [[Isak Dinesen]], [[André Malraux]], [[Robert Graves]], and [[Jean de Brunhoff]], who wrote the [[Babar the Elephant|Babar]] children's books. 

Random House also hired editors Harry Maule, Robert Linscott, and Saxe Commins, and they brought authors such as [[Sinclair Lewis]] and [[Robert Penn Warren]] with them.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bernstein, Robert L.|author-link=Robert L. Bernstein|chapter=Chapter 3|title=Speaking Freely: My Life in Publishing and Human Rights|publisher=The New Press|location=New York|year=2016|isbn=9781620971727|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxXfCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT39}}</ref> Random House entered reference publishing in 1947 with the ''[[American College Dictionary]]'', which was followed in 1966 by its first unabridged [[dictionary]]. 

In October 1959, Random House went public at $11.25 a [[Share (finance)|share]]. This was a factor in decisions by other publishing companies, including [[Simon & Schuster]], to later go public.<ref name="Another">{{cite book|last1=Korda|first1=Michael|title=Another Life : a memoir of other people|url=https://archive.org/details/anotherlifememoi00kord|url-access=registration|date=1999|publisher=Random House|location=New York|isbn=0-679-45659-7|edition=1st}}</ref> American publishers [[Alfred A. Knopf]], Inc. and [[Beginner Books]] were acquired by Random House in 1960, followed by [[Pantheon Books]] in 1961; works continue to be published under these imprints with editorial independence, such as [[Everyman's Library]], a series of classical literature reprints. 

In 1965, [[RCA Corporation|RCA]] bought Random House as part of a diversification strategy. Random House acquired the paperback book publisher [[Ballantine Books]] in 1973.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| title = Random House in Deal for Ballantine Books| work = The New York Times| access-date = November 3, 2019| date = January 9, 1973| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/09/archives/random-house-in-deal-for-ballantine-books.html| archive-date = November 8, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108045254/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/09/archives/random-house-in-deal-for-ballantine-books.html| url-status = live}}</ref> RCA sold Random House to [[Advance Publications]] in 1980.<ref name=Another/><ref>{{cite web|title=RCA History|url=http://www.bobsamerica.com/rca-history.html|website=bobsamerica|access-date=October 3, 2015|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224130314/http://www.bobsamerica.com/rca-history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Random House began publishing audiobooks in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brooke |first=James |date=1985-07-02 |title=Listened to Any Good Books Lately? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/02/books/listened-to-any-good-books-lately.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220000209/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/02/books/listened-to-any-good-books-lately.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In 1988, Random House acquired [[Crown Publishing Group]].<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Mitgang| first = Herbert| title = Random House Buys Crown| work = The New York Times| access-date = November 27, 2018| date = August 16, 1988| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/16/business/random-house-buys-crown.html| archive-date = September 1, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200901163256/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/16/business/random-house-buys-crown.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Also in 1988, [[McGraw-Hill Education|McGraw-Hill]] acquired Random House's Schools and Colleges division.<ref name="mcgraw-hillannounce2">{{cite news|title=McGraw-Hill Is Buying 2 Random House Units|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/29/business/the-media-business-mcgraw-hill-is-buying-2-random-house-units.html |url-access=subscription  |first=Edwin|last=McDowell|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 29, 1988|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-date=July 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708105901/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/29/business/the-media-business-mcgraw-hill-is-buying-2-random-house-units.html |url-status=live}}</ref>  

In 1998, [[Bertelsmann AG]] bought Random House and merged it with [[Bantam Books|Bantam]] [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]] [[Dell Books|Dell]] and it soon went global.<ref>"[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Random-House-Inc-Company-History.html History of Random House Inc.]", from Funding Universe. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304174822/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Random-House-Inc-Company-History.html |date=March 4, 2012 }}. Retrieved April 13, 2008.</ref> In 1999, Random House acquired the children's audiobook publisher Listening Library,<ref>{{Cite web| title = Random House Acquires Listening Library| work = Publishers Weekly| first = Shannon| last = Maughan| date = July 12, 1999| access-date = April 2, 2019| url = https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990712/34516-random-house-acquires-listening-library.html| archive-date = November 8, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108185211/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990712/34516-random-house-acquires-listening-library.html| url-status = live}}</ref> and sold its distribution division.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990503/40044-executive-group-to-acquire-random-s-distribution-division.html|title=Executive Group to Acquire Random's Distribution Division|first=Jim|last=Milliot|date=May 3, 1999|website=Publishers Weekly|access-date=February 5, 2023|archive-date=January 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128232450/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990503/40044-executive-group-to-acquire-random-s-distribution-division.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

===21st century===
In 2001, [[Phyllis E. Grann]] joined Random House as vice chairman.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/5618/|title=Now for the Grann Finale|last=Maneker|first=Marion|date=January 1, 2002|website=New York|access-date=May 23, 2018|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806061904/https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/5618/|url-status=live}}</ref> Grann was the CEO for Putnam and had grown that house from $10&nbsp;million in revenue in 1976, to more than $200&nbsp;million by 1993 and without increasing their title output.<ref name=":2" /> A publishing insider commented, "I think maybe instead of buying a company [Random House CEO Peter Olson] bought a person."<ref name=":2" /> 

In 2003, Random House reentered the distribution business.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20030526/34909-random-house-to-reenter-distribution-business.html|title=Random House to Reenter Distribution Business|first=Jim|last=Milliot|date=May 27, 2003|access-date=February 5, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131141023/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20030526/34909-random-house-to-reenter-distribution-business.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[2008 financial crisis]], the publishing industry was hit hard with weak retail sales. 

In May 2008, Random House CEO Peter Olson stepped down and was replaced by [[Markus Dohle]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/business/media/21random.html|title=Publishing Outsider Picked to Head Random House|last=Rich|first=Motoko|date=May 21, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 26, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414101358/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/business/media/21random.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In October 2008, Doubleday, a division of Random House, announced that they would lay off 16 people, representing approximately 10% of its workforce.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/books/29book.html|title=Doubleday Publishing Lays Off 10% of Its Employees|last=Rich|first=Motoko|date=October 28, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 27, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107115928/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/books/29book.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In early December 2008, which became known as Black Wednesday in publishing circles, many publishers including Random House took steps by restructuring their divisions and laying off employees.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/new-editor-at-random-house-layoffs-at-doubleday-and-broadway/|title=New Editor at Random House, Layoffs at Doubleday and Broadway|last=Rich|first=Motoko|date=December 17, 2008|website=ArtsBeat|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928102126/https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/new-editor-at-random-house-layoffs-at-doubleday-and-broadway/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The reorganization consolidated and created three divisions, including Random House Publishing Group, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and Crown Publishing Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20090119/16845-random-puts-its-house-in-order.html|title=Random Puts Its House in Order|website=Publishers Weekly|first=Jim|last=Milliot|date=January 19, 2009|access-date=April 3, 2016|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929192455/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20090119/16845-random-puts-its-house-in-order.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/major-reorganization-at-random-house/|title=Major Reorganization at Random House|last=Rich|first=Motoko|website=ArtsBeat|date=December 3, 2008|access-date=April 3, 2016|archive-date=June 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618101421/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/major-reorganization-at-random-house/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Susan Kamil]] was named editorial director for Dial Press and editor-in-chief of Random House imprints reporting to Gina Centrello, the president and publisher of the Random House Publishing Group.<ref name=":1" /> There were layoffs at [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]], now part of [[Alfred A. Knopf|Knopf Publishing Group]], and [[Dial Press]], [[Bantam Books|Bantam Dell]]. [[Spiegel & Grau]] was moved from Doubleday over to Random House. Random House also has an entertainment production arm for film and television, Random House Studio; which released the film, ''[[One Day (2011 film)|One Day]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2011-08-17 |title=One Day |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/one-day-2-1117945830/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> The company also creates story content for media including video games, social networks on the web, and mobile platforms. 

Random House is one of the largest [[English language]] publishers, and part of a group of publishers once known as the "Big 6" and now known as the "Big Five".<ref>The Big Six publishers, which have since been reduced to the "Big Five" by the merger on July 1, 2013 of Penguin and Random House, include Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group/Macmillan, Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin Books, Random House; and Simon & Schuster.</ref> In October 2012, Bertelsmann entered into talks with rival conglomerate [[Pearson plc]], over the possibility of combining their respective publishing companies, Random House and [[Penguin Group]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Pfanner |first=Eric |last2=Chozick |first2=Amy |date=2012-10-29 |title=Random House and Penguin Merger Creates Global Giant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/business/global/random-house-and-penguin-to-be-combined.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> 

On July 1, 2013, the merger was completed, and the new company emerged as [[Penguin Random House]].<ref>{{Cite news|title =Penguin and Random House in deal talks|date=October 26, 2012|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/eaf8eaaa-1eac-11e2-be82-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/eaf8eaaa-1eac-11e2-be82-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription|last1=Edgecliffe-Johnson|first1=Andrew|last2=Wiesmann|first2=Gerrit|access-date=August 12, 2013|work=[[Financial Times]]|department=Media}}{{Registration required}}</ref> When founded, Bertelsmann owned 53% of the joint venture while Pearson owned 47%.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/business/media/merger-of-penguin-and-random-house-is-completed.html |title=Penguin and Random House Merge, Saying Change Will Come Slowly |last=Bosman |first=Julie |date=July 1, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-date=July 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714165934/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/business/media/merger-of-penguin-and-random-house-is-completed.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6" /> 

Pearson sold 22% of its shares to Bertelsmann in July 2017, and since April 2020, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bertelsmann, making Random House division again wholly owned by German parent. At the time of the acquisition the combined companies controlled 25% of the book business with more than 10,000 employees and 250 independent publishing imprints and with about $3.9&nbsp;billion in annual revenues.<ref name=":0" /> The move to consolidate was to provide leverage against [[Amazon.com]] and battle the shrinking state of [[bookstore]]s.<ref name=":0" /> 

In October 2018, Penguin Random House merged two of its most known publishing lines, Random House and the Crown Publishing Group. According to Madeline McIntosh, chief executive of Penguin Random House U.S., the two lines "will retain their distinct editorial identities."<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |first=Alexandra |last=Alter |date=October 18, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/books/penguin-random-house-merges-two-of-its-successful-publishing-lines.html |title=Penguin Random House Merges Two of its Successful Publishing Lines |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031003509/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/books/penguin-random-house-merges-two-of-its-successful-publishing-lines.html |url-status=live }}{{Registration required}}</ref> McIntosh explained some of the motivation behind the merger in a memo to employees, writing, "Book discovery and buying patterns continue to shift, resulting in growth opportunities in the nonfiction categories in which Crown in particular already has a strong foothold: food, lifestyle, health, wellness, business, and Christian."<ref name=":3"/> "We must invest even more aggressively in title-level and scaled marketing programs, capabilities and partnerships", she added.<ref name=":3"/><ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=Maher |date=October 18, 2018 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/78369-random-house-crown-merge.html |title=The Random House and Crown Publishing Groups Merge |work=Publishers Weekly |access-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116020118/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/78369-random-house-crown-merge.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In 2019, Penguin Random House acquired British children's book publisher Little Tiger Group, including Tiger Tales Press, a U.S. subsidiary, and added it to Random House Children's Books.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79649-prh-acquires-u-k-s-little-tiger-group.html | title=PRH Acquires U.K.'s Little Tiger Group |first=Ed|last= Nawotka |website=Publishers Weekly|date=March 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231008102848/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79649-prh-acquires-u-k-s-little-tiger-group.html |archive-date= Oct 8, 2023 }}</ref> Penguin Random House announced an agreement to purchase [[Boom! Studios]] in July 2024, where Boom! would become part of Random House Worlds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milliot {{!}} |first=Jim |title=Random House Is Buying Boom! Studios |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/95465-random-house-is-buying-boom-studios.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2024-07-10 |title=Random House Publishing Group To Acquire Boom! Studios |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/boom-studios-to-be-acquired-random-house-publishing-group-1236006392/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Organization ==
=== Headquarters ===
The publisher's main office in the United States is located in [[Penguin Random House Tower]], which was constructed in 2009 at 1745 [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] in [[Manhattan]]. The 684-foot (210 m) building spans the west side of the block between West [[55th Street (Manhattan)|55th]] and West 56th Streets. The building's lobby showcases floor-to-ceiling glassed-in bookcases, which are filled with books published by the company and its subsidiaries. 

Prior to moving to Penguin Random House Tower, the company was headquartered at 457 [[Madison Avenue]], 20 East 57th Street, and 201 East 50th Street, all in Manhattan.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}}

=== International branches ===
Random House, Inc. maintains several independently managed subsidiaries around the world.

'''The Random House Group''' is one of the largest general book publishing companies in the [[United Kingdom]];{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}} it is based in London.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=THE RANDOM HOUSE GROUP LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00954009|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Find and update company information - GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=July 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718081606/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00954009|url-status=live}}</ref>

The group comprises nine publishing companies: Cornerstone Publishing, [[Vintage Books|Vintage Publishing]], [[Ebury Publishing]], [[Transworld Publishers]], Penguin Random House Children's, Penguin Random House UK Audio, Penguin Michael Joseph, Penguin Press, and Penguin General.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Publishing houses |url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/company/publishers |website=Penguin Books UK |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=12 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212201719/https://www.penguin.co.uk/company/publishers |url-status=live}}</ref> Its distribution business services its own imprints, as well as 40 other UK publishers through Grantham Book Services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sales and distribution |url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/company/work-with-us/sales-and-distribution |website=Penguin Books UK |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=12 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212201731/https://www.penguin.co.uk/company/work-with-us/sales-and-distribution |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Random House archive and library is located in [[Rushden]] in Northamptonshire.

In 1989, [[Hutchinson (publisher)|Century Hutchinson]] was folded into the British [[Random House#The Random House Group|Random House Group]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=McDowell |first=Edwin |date=1989-06-08|title=The Media Business; Random House to Buy British Book Publisher|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/08/business/the-media-business-random-house-to-buy-british-book-publisher.html|url-access=limited|access-date=2018-01-20|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718081610/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/08/business/the-media-business-random-house-to-buy-british-book-publisher.html|url-status=live}}</ref> briefly known as Random Century (1990–92),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hutchinson and Company (Publishers) Limited |url=https://baskervillebooks.co.uk/publisher/hutchinson-and-company-publishers-limited.html|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Baskerville Books |language=en|archive-date=July 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718080202/https://baskervillebooks.co.uk/publisher/hutchinson-and-company-publishers-limited.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Century became an [[Imprint (trade name)|imprint]] of the group's Cornerstone Publishing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cornerstone|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk/publishers/cornerstone/|access-date=2017-08-15|website=Penguin Random House UK |language=en|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815104839/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk/publishers/cornerstone/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Random House Group also operates branches in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa (as a joint venture under the name '''Random House Struik'''), and India as part of its overseas structure. In Australia offices are in Sydney and [[Melbourne]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.randomhouse.com.au/about/contacts.aspx|title = Contact us |access-date = March 3, 2014|website = Random House Books Australia |url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130929231658/http://www.randomhouse.com.au/about/contacts.aspx|archive-date = September 29, 2013}}</ref> In New Zealand it is based in [[Glenfield, New Zealand|Glenfield]], [[Auckland]], while Random House's Indian headquarters are located in New Delhi.

Verlagsgruppe Random House was established after Bertelsmann's 1998 acquisition of Random House, grouping its German imprints (until then operating as Verlagsgruppe Bertelsmann) under the new name; before April 2020, it has explicitly no legal part of the worldwide Penguin Random House company and a hundred percent subsidiary of Bertelsmann instead but de facto is led by the same management. It is the second largest book publisher in Germany with more than 40 imprints, including historic publishing houses [[Goldmann (publisher)|Goldmann]] and [[Heyne Verlag]], as well as C. Bertelsmann, the publishing house from which today's Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA would eventually evolve. Verlagsgruppe Random House is headquartered in [[Munich]] (with additional locations in [[Gütersloh]] (where Bertelsmann is headquartered), [[Cologne]], and [[Aßlar]]), employs about 850 people, and publishes roughly 2,500 titles per year. Following the formation of Penguin Random House, a '''Penguin Verlag''' (with no legal connection to Penguin Books) was founded for the German market in 2015, as part of the Verlagsgruppe Random House. With Bertelsmann acquiring full ownership of Penguin Random House in April 2020, Verlagsgruppe Random House is being reintegrated with the main Penguin Random House company and now known as '''Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe.'''<ref name="acq">{{cite web |title=Bertelsmann Completes Full Acquisition of Penguin Random House |url=https://www.bertelsmann.com/news-and-media/news/bertelsmann-completes-full-acquisition-of-penguin-random-house.jsp |date=2020 |publisher=[[Bertelsmann]] |access-date=April 27, 2020 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027091110/https://www.bertelsmann.com/news-and-media/news/bertelsmann-completes-full-acquisition-of-penguin-random-house.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial''' is Random House's Spanish-language division, targeting markets in [[Spain]] and [[Hispanic America]]. It is headquartered in [[Barcelona]] with locations in [[Argentina]], [[Chile]], [[Colombia]], [[Mexico]], [[Venezuela]], [[Uruguay]], and the United States. From 2001 until November 2012, it was a joint venture with Italian publisher [[Mondadori]] (Random House Mondadori). Upon Bertelsmann's acquisition of Mondadori's stake in the JV, the name was kept temporarily four months.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Random House Mondadori is renamed Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial | url = http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/press-release/random-house-mondadori-is-renamed-penguin-random-house-grupo-editorial/ | access-date = November 6, 2013 | date = November 4, 2013 | publisher = Penguin Random House | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131117202430/http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/press-release/random-house-mondadori-is-renamed-penguin-random-house-grupo-editorial/ | archive-date = November 17, 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Some Spanish-language authors published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial include [[Roberto Bolaño]], [[Javier Marías]], [[Mario Vargas Llosa]] and [[Guillermo Arriaga]].

'''[[Random House of Canada]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.ca/about-corporate|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126214622/http://www.randomhouse.ca/about-corporate|url-status=dead|title=Random House Canada|archivedate=November 26, 2012}}</ref> was established in 1944 as the Canadian distributor of Random House Books. In 1986, Random House of Canada established its own indigenous Canadian publishing program that has become one of the most successful in Canadian history. Until January 2012, it used to hold a 25% stake in [[McClelland & Stewart]], with the remaining 75% being controlled by the [[University of Toronto]]. It is now the sole owner of McClelland & Stewart.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

'''Takeda Random House Japan''' was founded in May 2003 as a joint venture between [[Kodansha]] and Random House.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Schreiber|first=Mark|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/01/13/national/media-national/magazines-struggle-to-maintain-relevance/|title=Magazines struggle to maintain relevance|date=January 13, 2013|work=The Japan Times|access-date=March 18, 2020|issn=0447-5763|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119215932/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/01/13/national/media-national/magazines-struggle-to-maintain-relevance/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, Random House discontinued the joint venture.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} Takeda Random House Japan filed for bankruptcy on December 14, 2012.<ref name=":4" />

In 2006, Random House invested in '''Random House Korea'''. In 2010, Random House divested their ownership.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In April 2010, Random House Australia managing director, Margie Seale, was assigned the responsibilities of exploring and evaluating potential business opportunities for the company in [[Asia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/42983-random-house-tries-new-approach-to-asia.html|title=Random House Tries New Approach to Asia|date=April 27, 2010|website=Publishers Weekly|access-date=March 18, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308134408/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/42983-random-house-tries-new-approach-to-asia.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Random House Home Video ==
{{Infobox company
| name = Random House Home Video
| logo =
| logo_size = 
| type = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| industry = [[Home video]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1984}}
| defunct = {{Start date and age|2005}}
| fate = Dormant
| successor = [[Sony Wonder]]<br />[[Columbia TriStar Home Video]]<br>[[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]]
| location = 
| parent = Random House
| products = 
| owner = 
| area_served = Worldwide
}}
'''Random House Home Video''' was a home video unit established by Random House in 1983 and named '''Random House Video''' until 1984. Random House's home video division was the distributor of some television shows, such as ''[[Sesame Street]]'' (1986–1994), ''[[The Busy World of Richard Scarry]]'' (1993–2005), ''[[Arthur (TV series)|Arthur]]'' (1996–2006), and ''[[The Berenstain Bears (1985 TV series)|The Berenstain Bears]]'', the original 1985–1987 animated television series (1989–2005, 2008–2009), and [[Golden Books]] (2001–2005). In 1994, it began distributing through [[Sony Wonder]]. Random House Home Video became dormant around 2005, but Sony Wonder still continued to use Random House Home Video's logo on ''Arthur'' [[VHS]] tapes and [[DVD]]s until 2006.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Books|Companies}}
* [[List of English language book publishers]]
* [[List of largest UK book publishers]]
* [[Media of New York City]]
* [[Western Publishing]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/ Official website]
* {{Open Library publisher|Random House}}
* [https://findingaids.library.columbia.edu/ead/nnc-rb/ldpd_4079581 Finding aid to Random House records] at Rare Book & Manuscript Library of [[Columbia University]]
* {{Cite web |title = Bertelsmann Timeline |url = https://www.ulib.niu.edu/publishers/index.htm |work = The Academic Publishing Industry: A Story of Merger and Acquisition |author = Mary H. Munroe |year = 2004 |via = Northern Illinois University |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100607024433/http://www.ulib.niu.edu/publishers/JohnWiley.htm |archive-date = 2010-06-07}}
* [https://whospeaks.library.vanderbilt.edu/ ''Who Speaks for the Negro?''] {{--}} A digital archive of materials related to [[Who Speaks for the Negro?|the book of the same name]] published in 1965 by Random House 

{{Penguin Random House}}
{{BIG6_PUBLISHERS_USA}}
{{Books}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Random House| ]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1998 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:Bertelsmann subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Book publishing companies based in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Book publishing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Publishing companies based in New York City]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1927]]