Germany’s Bookwire in Distribution Partnership with IPG

Based in Frankfurt, Bookwire is to provide ebook and audiobook distribution to the US distributor IPG’s clients.

Image – Getty iStockphoto: GaudiLab

By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson

IPG’s Digital Clients to Transition ‘Within the Year’

Today (July 1), Germany’s Bookwire and the United States-based Independent Publishers Group (IPG) have announced a digital distribution arrangement.

IPG’s statement on this indicates that it will “upgrade its digital ebook and audiobook distribution services by adopting the “Bookwire OS” platform, the core offering from Bookwire that’s very familiar to Publishing Perspectives‘ international readership.

It’s a cloud-based ebook distribution and digital marketing program with reach into Bookwire’s regional presence in Germany, Spain, Brazil, France, the States, and the United Kingdom.

Bookwire, in exchange, today’s statement says, is to get access to IPG’s digital print and distribution services, which will help Bookwire expand its footprint in the US market.

Joe Matthews

In a comment from IPG’s CEO, Joe Matthews, we read, “IPG’s digital clients will transition to the Bookwire OS platform within the next year, gaining access to increased channel opportunities, automated marketing, integrated analytics, and other benefits. This partnership allows us to focus on our core business while enhancing our digital service offerings.

“Our clients will greatly benefit from the advanced capabilities and global distribution network of the Bookwire OS platform.”

As the two companies describe it in today’s media messaging, IPG and Bookwire will each stay focused on its own specialties—IPG providing distribution for independent publishers and Bookwire specializing in international  digital distribution of ebooks and audiobooks.

Jens Klingelhöfer

Jens Klingelhöfer, co-founding CEO of Bookwire, is quoted, saying, “This strategic partnership with IPG marks a new chapter for us.

“By combining our strengths, we’re better positioned to support US publishers with innovative solutions and drive growth in the digital distribution space.”

And for IPG digital clients who may feel concerned by Matthews’ reference to transitioning to the Bookwire service, the US country manager for Bookwire, Brittyne Lewis, says that the company’s goal is to “ensure a smooth transition and provide them with great customer service and the tools and support they need.”

Brittyne Lewis

Bookwire was established by Klingelhöfer and co-CEO John Ruhrmann in Frankfurt in 2010 and it reports having approximately 1.3 million ebooks and 300,000 audiobooks in its distribution channels. Christian Lindemann is COO. A digital hub is maintained in Dortmund and offices are said to be in Barcelona, London, Milan, São Paulo, New York, and Paris.

IPG was created in 1971 with its emphasis on independent publishing houses. The parent company of IPG is Chicago Review Press, which bought IPG in 1987 and now also owns Triumph Books. In 2021, IPG acquired the United Kingdom’s United Independent Distributors and its subsidiaries Eurospan, Marston Book Services, and Orca Book Services.

More from Publishing Perspectives on distribution is here, more on digital publishing is here, more on ebooks is here, more on audiobooks is here, more on the German market is here, and more on the United States Market is here.