Triumph Books and ABG to Launch a New Series of Sports Illustrated Frontlist Trade Books

September 21, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21, 2020
Contact: Alisse Goldsmith-Wissman | Publicity Manager
312.337.0747 | [email protected]

CHICAGO, IL and NEW YORK, NY — Triumph Books, the leader in sports publishing, and Authentic Brands Group (ABG), a global brand development, marketing and entertainment company, and owner of the Sports Illustrated brand, today announced a partnership to launch a series of Sports Illustrated frontlist trade books. Based in Chicago with its parent company Independent Publishers Group (IPG), Triumph Books has established itself as the preeminent publisher of sports books in the United States and Canada, bringing 80-90 new titles to the market every year.

“Sports Illustrated has published a wealth of industry-leading books under the Sports Illustrated and Sports Illustrated Kids imprints and we are excited to continue this winning streak in partnership with Triumph publishing,” said Marc Rosen, EVP of Entertainment at ABG. “Triumph’s strength of reaching sports fans combined with its access to IPG’s distribution network provides Sports Illustrated with extensive reach into dozens of distribution channels from large book retailers to sports-focused specialty stores.”

Through this partnership, which is set to launch in 2021, Triumph Books and Sports Illustrated will bring to market titles in several categories, including high-end, photo-driven coffee table books, anthologies of stories from SI’s archives, team histories, commemorative books and titles focused on current events and trends that expand on Sports Illustrated’s current reporting across all forms of media.

“Triumph Books is thrilled to partner with Authentic Brands Group to continue Sports Illustrated’s book publishing program and to take it in new, exciting directions,” said Triumph Books publisher Noah Amstadter. “Triumph’s mission is to deliver books to our readers that celebrate and educate fans about the sports, teams, and athletes they love. I can’t think of a better name to do this with than Sports Illustrated, which has been the pinnacle that sports writers and photographers have strived to reach for more than half a century. We are honored to work with this team and utilize their incredible archive to bring exciting new books to fans of all ages.”

Together, ABG and Triumph will also expand the Sports Illustrated Kids catalog with updated entries in the bestselling Big Book of Who, Big Book of Why, and the My First Book series and new titles focused on sports stars from professional and college teams across several eras. “Triumph has a strong catalog of children’s sports books, from engaging titles for beginning readers like B is for Baller to more intermediate titles like Jennie Finch’s Throw Like a Girl,” added Amstadter. “Our partnership with Sports Illustrated supercharges that effort, as SI has long been the market leader in this space.”

ABG acquired Sports Illustrated in May of 2019. Under its leadership, Sports Illustrated has forged ahead in a number of exciting new verticals including long-form content via Sports Illustrated Studios, lifestyle apparel and collaborations, nutrition and wellness supplements and a women’s swimwear under the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit brand. Triumph Books and IPG’s unparalleled reach both in and outside of the book trade will expand the Sports Illustrated and Sports Illustrated Kids imprints beyond the shelves of traditional booksellers. IPG previously signed a backlist licensing agreement with Sports Illustrated/Authentic Brands Group in 2019 and has already begun the distribution of past titles.

“Sports Illustrated and Triumph Books is an ideal partnership that unites two of the strongest brands in sports publishing,” said Cynthia Sherry, group publisher for IPG-owned Triumph Books and Chicago Review Press. “We’re overjoyed to be working with Sports Illustrated on this exciting deal that combines their legacy of great sports content with Triumph Books’ expertise in producing timely sports books fans want to read.”

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About Triumph Books and Independent Publishers Group (IPG): 
Triumph Books is the nation’s leading sports book publisher, producing a wide range of titles—from biographies, memoirs and reference books to championship commemoratives. Over the course of three decades Triumph has built and maintained relationships with the biggest names in sports and sports media. 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 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 6,000 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 $14 billion in annual retail sales and includes Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O'Neal®, Sports Illustrated®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Nautica®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Herve Leger®, Judith Leiber®, Barneys New York®, Brooks Brothers ®, Frye®, Lucky Brand®, Nine West®, Jones New York®, Frederick's of Hollywood®, Louise et Cie®, Sole Society®, Enzo Angiolini®, CC Corso Como®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Adrienne Vittadini®, Taryn Rose®, Bandolino®, Misook®, Spyder®, Tretorn®, Tapout®, Prince®, Volcom®, Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Above The Rim®, Hind®, Thomasville®, Drexel®, and Henredon®. 

For more information, visit authenticbrandsgroup.com.
Follow ABG on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Sports Illustrated:
Sports Illustrated is an unparalleled and influential leader recognized for its role in shaping modern culture and uniting athletes, teams, and fans from all over the world. Powerful storytelling is brought to life through world-class live events, immersive experiences, and lifestyle products.

Its award-winning media enterprise captures moments and turns them into history through rich and thoughtful journalism, iconic and beloved photography, and across digital platforms ranging from Emmy-winning video to an ever-expanding social community. The Sports Illustrated cover is the most coveted real estate in sports media and one of the most recognizable honors in American culture. Brand extensions include the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and Sports Illustrated Kids franchises. Sports Illustrated shares its unique and authentic perspective year-round, through marquee events, activations, partnerships, star-studded celebrations, and VIP-access to athletes and A-list celebrities. Tentpoles include the annual Super Bowl celebration: “The Party,” Fashionable Fifty, and the Sportsperson of the Year Awards. 

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