Da Capo Press

Da Capo Press is an American book-publishing imprint whose origins lie in music publishing. It was established in 1964 as a division of Plenum Publishing, initially concentrating on books about music. The name refers to the Italian musical instruction "da capo," meaning "from the beginning," a direction traditionally used in musical notation to tell performers to return to the opening of a piece. That musical association reflects the imprint's original editorial purpose and remains central to its identity. During the mid-1970s, Da Capo expanded beyond its initial specialist remit and became a general trade publisher. Over time, its nonfiction list developed around subjects including music, history, biography, the performing arts, sports, and popular culture. The list has included both hardcover and paperback books, with an emphasis on accessible trade nonfiction rather than a narrowly academic catalog. The imprint's music background continued to distinguish it within the broader publishing market, while its expansion into cultural history and other narrative nonfiction gave it a wider readership. Da Capo's corporate ownership changed as the publishing industry consolidated. After Plenum was sold to Wolters Kluwer, Da Capo was sold in 1999 to Perseus Books Group, a New York-based independent publishing group. Under Perseus, the imprint continued to publish trade nonfiction and developed additional health-related activity. In 2003, Lifelong Books was established as a health and wellness imprint. When Marlowe & Company became part of the Da Capo structure in 2007, Lifelong's scope broadened to cover healthful cooking, psychology, personal development, sexuality, diabetes, and the New Glucose Revolution series. The imprint also experimented with digital access and editorial distribution. In 2009, it placed the scientific portion of the book Jetpack Dreams online at no charge, an example of making selected book material available beyond the conventional print product. At the end of the 2000s, Da Capo was reported to have offices or operations associated with Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Emeryville, California. In April 2016, Hachette Book Group acquired Perseus Books Group. Da Capo therefore entered the Hachette portfolio, alongside other established publishing imprints. After the acquisition, Seal Press became part of Da Capo, while later organizational changes placed Da Capo under Hachette Books and moved Seal Press to Basic Books in 2018. Da Capo is consequently best understood today as an imprint within a large commercial publishing group rather than as an independent standalone company. Its historical through-line is the evolution from a music-focused publisher into a general nonfiction imprint, followed by integration into the Hachette Books structure.

Da Capo Press began in 1964 as a music-book publishing division of Plenum Publishing. Its name was drawn from the Italian musical expression "da capo," or "from the beginning," which instructs a performer to return to the start of a composition. The original publishing program reflected that identity by focusing on music books and related subjects. The imprint broadened its scope during the mid-1970s, when it moved toward general trade publishing. Although music remained an important part of its identity, the list expanded into history, biography, the performing arts, sports, and popular culture. Da Capo issued both hardcover and paperback nonfiction and developed a position between specialist cultural publishing and accessible mass-market trade nonfiction. A major ownership transition occurred in 1999. Plenum had been sold to Wolters Kluwer, and Da Capo was subsequently sold to Perseus Books Group. Under Perseus, the imprint continued its nonfiction program while adding health and wellness publishing. Lifelong Books was established in 2003 as a health and wellness imprint. Its remit later widened when Marlowe & Company became part of the imprint in 2007. The resulting program included books on diabetes, the New Glucose Revolution series, healthful cooking, psychology, personal growth, and sexuality. Da Capo also pursued at least one form of online experimentation. In 2009, it published the scientific component of Jetpack Dreams on the web for free. This initiative made selected content available digitally while the imprint otherwise remained centered on conventional book publishing. Around this period, the company was associated with offices in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Emeryville, California. In April 2016, Hachette Book Group purchased Perseus Books Group. The transaction transferred Da Capo into the Hachette organization. Following the acquisition, Seal Press became a Da Capo imprint. In 2018, the corporate structure was adjusted again: Da Capo became an imprint of Hachette Books, while Seal Press became an imprint of Basic Books. These changes marked the completion of Da Capo's transition from a Perseus publishing imprint into a Hachette Books imprint. The history of Da Capo Press is therefore defined by three stages: a music-focused beginning under Plenum, expansion into broad trade nonfiction under Perseus, and integration into Hachette's larger publishing system. Its enduring editorial profile centers on nonfiction about music and culture, supported by adjacent lists in history, the arts, sports, popular culture, and health and wellness.

• 2018

  Da Capo is placed under Hachette Books

  [1]Da Capo Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Da Capo becomes an imprint of Hachette Books, while Seal Press is moved to Basic Books.

• 2016

  Hachette acquires Perseus

  [1]Da Capo Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Hachette Book Group acquires Perseus Books Group, including Da Capo Press.

• 2007

  Marlowe & Company becomes part of the imprint structure

  [1]Da Capo Pressen.wikipedia.org

  The integration of Marlowe & Company expands Lifelong Books into additional health, psychology, personal-growth, sexuality, and diabetes subjects.

• 2003

  Lifelong Books is established

  [1]Da Capo Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Da Capo establishes Lifelong Books as a health and wellness imprint.

• 1999

  Da Capo joins Perseus Books Group

  [1]Da Capo Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Following the sale of Plenum to Wolters Kluwer, Da Capo is sold to Perseus Books Group.

• 1970

  Expansion into general trade publishing

  [1]Da Capo Pressen.wikipedia.org

  During the mid-1970s, Da Capo expands beyond music books into general trade publishing.

• 1964

  Da Capo Press is founded as a music publisher

  [1]Da Capo Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Da Capo Press is established as a music-book publishing division of Plenum Publishing.

A trade nonfiction imprint with roots in music publishing and a broad cultural list spanning music, history, the performing arts, sports, popular culture, and health-related subjects.

• Music publishing · 1964

  Music books

  Da Capo's original publishing program centered on music books. The subject area established the imprint's name and identity and remained an important part of its nonfiction profile after the company expanded into broader trade publishing.

• Trade nonfiction · 1970

  General trade nonfiction

  From the mid-1970s, Da Capo developed a general trade list rather than remaining solely a music specialist. Its nonfiction subjects have included history, biography, the performing arts, sports, and popular culture, published in both hardcover and paperback formats.

• Health and wellness · 2003

  Lifelong Books

  Founded in 2003, Lifelong Books extended Da Capo's publishing activity into health and wellness. After the integration of Marlowe & Company, the imprint's coverage included diabetes, the New Glucose Revolution series, healthful cooking, psychology, personal growth, and sexuality.

• 2016

  Acquisition by Hachette Book GroupM&A

  Background

  Perseus Books Group became the subject of a major publishing-industry acquisition.

  Action taken

  Hachette Book Group acquired Perseus, bringing Da Capo Press into the Hachette organization.

  Aftermath

  Da Capo was subsequently organized under Hachette Books, and Seal Press was first associated with Da Capo before moving to Basic Books.

  Source

• 2003

  Creation of Lifelong BooksStrategy

  Background

  Da Capo sought to extend its publishing activities beyond its established cultural and music-related nonfiction list.

  Action taken

  It founded Lifelong Books as a health and wellness imprint.

  Aftermath

  The imprint later expanded its coverage through the addition of Marlowe & Company and published titles on diabetes, cooking, psychology, personal development, and sexuality.

  Source

• 1999

  Sale to Perseus Books GroupM&A

  Background

  After Plenum was sold to Wolters Kluwer, Da Capo changed ownership as part of the restructuring of the former Plenum publishing assets.

  Action taken

  Da Capo was sold to Perseus Books Group and continued as part of that company's publishing portfolio.

  Aftermath

  The transaction placed Da Capo within an independent publishing group and preceded the later expansion of its trade nonfiction and health-related activity.

  Source

1. 1Da Capo Pressen.wikipedia.org