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January 1-15, 2004 Edition

Simon & Schuster

Posts Record Sales

Despite Sluggish 2003

NEW YORK, NY/12/18/03—Led by strong sales in the children’s market, Simon & Schuster will post record revenues for the sluggish 2003 year, CEO JackRomanos said in his year-end employee letter.

The publisher had a record 102 bestsellers in 2003. Front running adult titles included The Ultimate Weight Solution, selling 2.5 million copies, and Living History, with 1.8 million copies. Best selling titles in the children’s division included Olivia and the Missing Toy and Good Night Sweet Butterflies.

Romanos said that readers have shifted their buying habits and tastes, and that the company would strive to expand the market to include more new voices for a growing generation of younger adult customers. He encouraged the staff to “make the best of possible title acqusitions” against changing sales patterns.

The CEO said the company succeded in a difficult market due to improved efficiencies and a strong publishing program.