Independent Publishers Group and Sports Illustrated Sign Official Backlist Distribution Agreement

January 21, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2020

Contact: Alisse Goldsmith-Wissman | Publicity Manager
312.337.0747 | [email protected]

CHICAGO, IL—Independent Publishers Group (IPG), the leading independent book distributor in the United States, is pleased to announce that it has signed a backlist distribution agreement with Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated has published a wealth of industry-leading books under the Sports Illustrated and Sports Illustrated Kids imprints, including Football’s Greatest, The Top 10 of Everything in Sports, SI Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful and the “My First Book Of” children’s series. Effective January 1, 2020, IPG’s renowned sales force brings new opportunities and a fresh energy to the sale of Sports Illustrated’s titles around the country.

“We are thrilled for Sports Illustrated to join forces with IPG” said Marc Rosen, Executive Vice President of Entertainment at Sports Illustrated’s parent company, Authentic Brands Group. “IPG has become a major force in the distribution of sports books in the marketplace and we look forward to working with IPG to expand the reach of Sports Illustrated’s bestselling titles.”

IPG is the parent company of Triumph Books, one of the nation’s leading publishers of sports books, including Fight to the Finish, NFL 100, I’ll Show You by Derrick Rose and many other bestselling sports-driven memoirs, biographies, references, and commemorative titles.

“Sports Illustrated is an iconic American sports brand and by adding its backlist to our robust collection of existing and emerging sports titles published by Triumph, IPG has positioned itself as an industry leader in this space” said Joe Matthews, CEO of IPG. “I’m excited to see IPG bring Sports Illustrated’s celebrated title list to new audiences.”

IPG’s extensive reach into dozens of sales channels, both in and out of the book trade, including national chains, independent wholesale and retail, library, specialty retail and mass merchandise provides Sports Illustrated’s catalog with renewed care and attention.

“The pairing of Sports Illustrated with IPG is a testament to IPG’s unmatched selling ability as well as the rise of IPG’s profile in a crowded space.” said Richard T. Williams, VP of publisher development at IPG. “We are honored that Sports Illustrated has chosen IPG as a distribution partner because it means that they trust us to protect the integrity of the brand at its near-untouchable level of esteem.”

Independent Publishers Group
Independent Publishers Group was established in 1971 and was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. Today, IPG’s wide reach into the book market includes distribution of publishers with academic and professional, Spanish-language and general trade nonfiction and fiction titles. 

About Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an award-winning media enterprise and cultural touchstone that captures moments in sports and turns them into history. Offering the most relevant and innovative content in real-time, SI is the authoritative voice of the sports world and the source that connects audiences to athletes and teams across every touchpoint spanning entertainment, editorial, and digital platforms to live events and brand extensions. The Sports Illustrated network includes the iconic Magazine and SI Kids and marquee franchises Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Sportsperson of the Year, and Fashionable 50.

For more information, visit ‪SI.com.
Follow Sports Illustrated on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (ABG) is a brand development, marketing and entertainment company, which owns a portfolio of global media, entertainment and lifestyle brands. Headquartered in New York City, ABG elevates and builds the long-term value of more than 50 consumer brands and properties by partnering with best-in-class manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Its brands have a global retail footprint in more than 100,000 points of sale across the luxury, specialty, department store, mid-tier, mass and e-commerce channels and more than 5,000 freestanding stores and shop-in-shops around the world.   

ABG is committed to transforming brands by delivering compelling product, content, business and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. ABG’s portfolio of iconic and world-renowned brands generates more than $10 billion in annual retail sales and includes Marilyn Monroe®, Mini Marilyn®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O'Neal®, Sports Illustrated®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Nautica®, Aéropostale®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Herve Leger®, Judith Leiber®, Barneys New York®, Frederick's of Hollywood®, Nine West®, Frye®, Jones New York®, Louise et Cie®, Sole Society®, Enzo Angiolini®, CC Corso Como®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Adrienne Vittadini®, Taryn Rose®, Bandolino®, Misook®, 1.STATE®, CeCe®, Chaus®, Spyder®, Tretorn®, Tapout®, Prince®, Volcom®, Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Above The Rim®, Hind®, Thomasville®, Drexel® and Henredon®.

For more information, visit authenticbrandsgroup.com. 
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