Over the weekend rumors spread that Penguin and Random House were looking at a possible merger; this morning came confirmation. That means the Big Six will become the Big Five, and the new company will be called Penguin Random House. (I prefer someone’s suggestion of “Random Penguin” better.) Read about it via Publishers’ Weekly.
Earlier this month came news that Simon & Schuster has reorganized, cutting two of its six adult publishing imprints. Look for further consolidation down the road, from the companies that are left.