How HarperCollins Ends Up With a Record Quarter

Frontlist, print, and category strength are showing up strong now.

Every time a Big Five publisher posts a “record quarter,” people rush to either declare the industry saved or declare the numbers meaningless. The truth is, these reports are snapshots of what readers are buying and what parts of the business are still doing the heavy lifting.

This week, HarperCollins reported a 6 percent increase in sales, hitting $633 …