The Stage Media Company has announced its new identity as Playbook Media, marking a new chapter for the company behind two UK cultural and creative industry titles, The Bookseller and The Stage.
The new name brings the company’s publishing, conferences and events portfolio together under one shared identity, reflecting its role at the heart of the book and performing arts industries. Alongside its two longstanding titles, Playbook Media produces events including The British Book Awards, The Stage Debut Awards, FutureBook and the Future of Theatre Conference.
The company says the rebrand reflects its evolution into a more unified business following the acquisition of The Bookseller in 2020 and a series of senior appointments across the organisation. Earlier this year, Alistair Smith became managing director, the company’s first non-family MD since the 1920s. Hugh Comerford, the previous managing director and a member of the company’s founding family, is now chair. Philip Jones has been appointed editorial director of Playbook Media, alongside his role as editor of The Bookseller, and Rachel Foley-Scott has been appointed deputy managing director.
Alistair Smith, managing director of Playbook Media, said: “Playbook Media gives us a clearer way of expressing who we are as a company today. The Stage and The Bookseller remain two distinct and trusted brands, each with a long history of serving their industries, but we are now operating as one business with a shared purpose, strategy and set of values.
“Our new identity reflects both the company's heritage and our ambition: a company built on trusted journalism and strong brands, but also focused on the future, on stronger connection with the industries we serve and on long-term stewardship of both our titles and those industries.”
The rebrand to Playbook Media is effective immediately.
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