Da Capo Press
De Capo Press opened its doors in 1964 as a specialized publisher of music books. It operated initially as a division within Plenum Publisher, focusing exclusively on sheet music and musical literature. The company name came from an Italian musical term meaning "from the beginning," instructing musicians to repeat a piece from the start. This early focus defined its identity for over a decade before expanding into broader categories.
The mid-1970s marked a turning point when Da Capo Press transitioned from a niche music publisher to a general trade house. New offices appeared in cities like New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Emeryville, California by 2009. These locations supported a growing catalog that now included history, sports, performing arts, and popular culture titles alongside their original music focus. Production shifted toward mostly nonfiction works available in both hardcover and paperback formats during this expansion period.
Corporate changes reshaped the company structure starting with Plenum's sale to Wolters Kluwer, a Dutch firm. Da Capo Press itself was sold to the Perseus Books Group of New York City in 1999 following that initial transaction. Later developments saw Hachette Book Group acquire the entire Perseus Books Group in April 2016. This acquisition brought Da Capo under new ownership while integrating sister imprints like Seal Press into its portfolio. By 2018, organizational shifts made Da Capo an imprint of Hachette Books and moved Seal to Basic Books.
Lifelong Books launched in 2003 as a dedicated health and wellness imprint within the larger publishing family. The addition of Marlowe & Company in 2007 significantly broadened Lifelong's scope to include diabetes titles and the New Glucose Revolution series. This expanded range covered topics from psychology and personal growth to sexuality and healthful cooking. These specialized imprints allowed the parent company to target specific reader demographics beyond general nonfiction audiences.
Financial performance reached more than $2.5 million in net sales during 2008 according to Global Duns Market Identifiers data. The company embraced digital distribution by posting the science portion of Jetpack Dreams online for free in 2009. This move represented one of their early experiments with web-based content delivery alongside traditional print formats. Office locations continued supporting these diverse operations across multiple American cities throughout this period.
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Common questions
When did Da Capo Press open its doors?
Da Capo Press opened its doors in 1964 as a specialized publisher of music books. It operated initially as a division within Plenum Publisher, focusing exclusively on sheet music and musical literature.
What does the name Da Capo Press mean?
The company name came from an Italian musical term meaning from the beginning, instructing musicians to repeat a piece from the start. This early focus defined its identity for over a decade before expanding into broader categories.
Who acquired Da Capo Press in 1999?
Da Capo Press was sold to the Perseus Books Group of New York City in 1999 following that initial transaction. Later developments saw Hachette Book Group acquire the entire Perseus Books Group in April 2016.
Which cities hosted new offices for Da Capo Press by 2009?
New offices appeared in cities like New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Emeryville, California by 2009. These locations supported a growing catalog that now included history, sports, performing arts, and popular culture titles alongside their original music focus.
When did Lifelong Books launch as a health imprint?
Lifelong Books launched in 2003 as a dedicated health and wellness imprint within the larger publishing family. The addition of Marlowe & Company in 2007 significantly broadened Lifelong's scope to include diabetes titles and the New Glucose Revolution series.