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Britney Spears memoir goes to S&S in 'landmark deal'
Simon & Schuster UK will publish pop star Britney Spears’ memoir, The Woman in Me, due in October 2023.
Jennifer Bergstrom, senior vice-president and publisher of Gallery Books, and the division’s executive editor Lauren Spiegel, acquired world and audio rights from Cait Hoyt at US-based talent and sport agency CAA in what the publisher called “a landmark deal” reportedly worth $15m (£11m).
Ian Chapman, c.e.o. and publisher, S&S UK and International, and Holly Harris, publishing director, Adult Non-fiction, negotiated for UK and Commonwealth rights. The company will publish The Woman In Me by Britney Spears in the UK on Tuesday 24th October 2023, r.r.p. £25. S&S Audio will simultaneously publish the audio edition as will Canada, Australia, and India.
In addition, foreign rights have been sold to: Buzz Editora (Portuguese/Brazil), Bard Publishing House (Bulgarian), Politikens Forlag A/S (Danish), Kosmos Uitgevers (Dutch), Werner Soderstrom LTD (Finnish), Editions Jean-Claude Lattes (French), Penguin Verlag (German), Alexandra Könyvesház Kft. (Hungarian), Longanesi & C. S.R.L. (Italian), Cappelen Damn (Norwegian), Grupa Wydawnicza Foksal SP. Z.O.O. (Polish), Bookzone (Romanian), Penguin Random House Grupo (Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese/Portugal) and Bokforlaget Forum AB (Swedish).
Bergstrom commented: “Britney’s compelling testimony in open court shook the world, changed laws, and showed her inspiring strength and bravery. I have no doubt her memoir will have a similar impact—and will be the publishing event of the year. We couldn’t be more proud to help her share her story at last.”
S&S said the memoir “is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith and hope. In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court”.
The star’s finances and personal life were controlled by her father and others for 13 years through a conservatorship until 2021, when they were finally released following a lengthy court battle.
The publisher added. “The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.
“Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’ groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.”
Spears is one of the most successful entertainers in music history, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide and is multi-platinum and Grammy Award–winning. In 2021, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Spears’ album "Blackout" was added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Library & Archives in 2012. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
