Rowman & Littlefield acquires Hal Leonard performing arts list

Rowman & Littlefield has acquired a number of book trade imprints and titles from the Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group (HLPAPG), a Milwaukee-based independent publisher specialised in titles for music and performing arts professionals and pop culture fans.

As part of the deal, Rowman & Littlefield bought Hal Leonard imprints Applause (focused on theatre and cinema), Amadeus Press (classical music and opera), Backbeat Books (biographies, memoirs and histories), and Limelight Editions (resources for working and aspiring actors, producers, writers, directors, filmmakers and set designers, among others). Also included in the deal are some books on the Hal Leonard Books imprint. The publications it takes on range from music business, marketing, songwriting and audio/recording educational courses to popular memoirs, biographies and illustrated editions.

Hal Leonard LLC, the company from which the list was bought, will continue its "separate and substantial" business of publishing sheet music and music instructional materials as well as its "growing" business of the distribution of music instruments and related products, R&L said.

The deal will see John Cerullo, group publisher at Hal Leonard LLC, onboarded to Rowman & Littlefield, reporting to Oliver Gadsby, president of the company’s Academic and Professional Division. Carol Flannery, editorial director, and Clare Cerullo, production manager, will also join Rowman & Littlefield as a result.

Commenting, Cerullo said: "“We are thrilled to be joining Rowman & Littlefield, with its track record of independence and fine publishing. The Hal Leonard list has a great new home."

Following the deal, a number of publishers including Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, Backbeat Books, Limelight Editions, whose titles were distributed by Hal Leonard, will in future be serviced by National Book Network (NBN). The acquired titles from Amadeus Press and selected other Hal Leonard titles will be sold by Rowman & Littlefield under each company’s discount schedules. The vendor transfer from Hal Leonard to NBN and R&L will be 1st February 2019 and, until this date, it is advised that customers should continue to direct orders to Hal Leonard as normal.

Group president and c.e.o. at NBN Jed Lyons said: "We are delighted to bring the Hal Leonard team and business on board, and are looking forward to working with John and his colleagues. The Hal Leonard list will benefit from extra attention and focus from our own trade and academic teams, and we look forward to publishing the rich array of titles for the world of performing arts coming across with this acquisition."