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ByteDance’s 8th Note Press Is Closing: What Authors and Readers Should Know

ByteDance’s BookTok-focused imprint 8th Note Press was reported to be closing in June 2025. The reports name two print releases but do not establish the company’s reason or the final rights status of every author.
From TheFinanceBase Team2 min to read
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ByteDance’s 8th Note Press, a publisher positioned around BookTok-related books, was reported in June 2025 to be shutting down. Authors were told the imprint would close and publication rights would be returned, but reports do not establish that every author’s rights had been returned. ByteDance did not publicly explain the decision in the coverage cited here.

What happened to 8th Note Press?

8th Note Press was a ByteDance publishing imprint launched in 2023. Its positioning connected it with BookTok, TikTok’s book community, and genres popular with that readership. In November 2024, ByteDance announced plans to publish physical books, with releases expected in shops in early 2025, according to The Guardian.

In June 2025, TechCrunch reported that authors were being told the press would shut down and return publication rights. Publishers Weekly said authors and agents had received emails the prior month; ByteDance representatives declined to comment to the publication. A June 19 report from The Bookseller described authors negotiating the return of rights. These reports describe a closure and rights-return process, not a confirmed final outcome for every contract.

Which books did the imprint publish?

The print program was aimed at BookTok-popular categories, including young adult and contemporary fiction and romantasy. Publishers Weekly identified two print releases:

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Publishers Weekly reported that Zando was 8th Note Press’s print-publishing partner. The existence of these releases does not establish their current retailer availability or the status of any later editions.

Why is ByteDance closing the publisher?

The cited reports do not provide an official reason. TechCrunch said the reason was unclear and that ByteDance had not responded to its request for comment; Publishers Weekly reported that company representatives declined to comment. Poor sales, a change in strategy, or impatience with the publishing business should not be treated as established explanations.

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Authors and agents had reportedly been attracted by the prospect that the imprint could use TikTok to help promote books, as The New York Times described. That was an expectation, not evidence of a measured marketing effect or sales result.

What does the closure mean for authors and readers?

For authors, the key issue is the status of each individual publishing contract. The June 2025 coverage indicates that rights were to be returned or were being negotiated for return; it does not confirm that all agreements had been completed. Authors with a book under contract would need to rely on direct communications and the terms of their own agreement to determine what happens next.

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For readers, the reports establish that named print editions were released, but they do not say whether copies remain in stock or whether another publisher will reissue them. Anyone looking for one of the titles should check a current bookseller listing for the exact title, author, and edition rather than assume continued availability.

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What the short-lived imprint did—and did not—show

8th Note Press brought together two distinct ideas: publishing books aimed at audiences associated with BookTok and using TikTok’s potential for discovery. Its later move into print involved a partnership with Zando. The closure reports establish that the imprint did not continue beyond its early publishing period; they do not establish that BookTok marketing failed, that the books performed poorly, or that ByteDance’s decision reflected a particular financial calculation.

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