The new battleground in the ebook pricing case — to determine how much Apple will pay in damages, assuming their appeal is unsuccessful — has just begun. (So you should be wary of any headlines that imply otherwise.) Expect a number of filings and counter-arguments in the months to come, and remember most importantly that Apple’s liability will be determined at a separate trial scheduled for next May. Everything else is preamble. It will not shock you that the states have found themselves a new expert, professor emeritus at Stanford Roger Noll, who has decided that the “damages” to consumers […]
Archives for October 2013
People, Etc.
Webb Younce has joined Thomas Nelson imprint Nelson Books as associate publisher/executive editor, filling the role previously held by Bryan Norman. He and is wife are relocating to Nashville. Most recently he was at Free Press, until it was disbanded as a separate Simon & Schuster unit in 2012. At Fodor’s Travel, Arabella Bowen has been promoted to the newly created position of vp, editor in chief. Skyhorse will launch a new library-focused imprint, Carrel Books, in fall 2014, with an initial list of 20-30 titles annually in categories such as medicine/health, history, biography/memoir, and business/careers. The imprint will be overseen […]
Briefs: AudioGo Suspends Operations Pending Sale; Inkling Acquires OpenAir
UK-based audiobook publisher AudioGo has suspended operations and is looking for an investment or outright sale, the company’s head of sales and marketing Rachel Josephson confirmed to the the Bookseller. She added: “There is a considerable amount of interest in AudioGO and we are hopeful of achieving a swift resolution. Protecting and respecting the rights of everyone that we work with is uppermost in our considerations and we are grateful for the fantastic support we have received from our colleagues throughout the industry.” The company recently sold its US-based arm Blackstone Audio back to its founders, just ten months after […]
People: New ICM Partners Include Dahl and Joel, and More
ICM Partners has expanded their partnership to encompass 11 more agents. They join the 27 partners who took control of the firm in 2012 after completing a buyout of previous controlling owner Rizvi Traverse Management. Two book publishing agents — Kris Dahl and Jennifer Joel — are among the new partners. (Sloan Harris, Esther Newberg and Amanda Urban were all part of the initial group of partners from last year.) The partners noted in a group statement: “The culture of professionalism, collegiality and teamwork that we enjoy at the agency will continue to grow with the addition of our new […]
People, Etc.
Associate publisher of Thomas Dunne Books Pete Wolverton has taken on the the additional title of editor-in-chief. St. Martin’s publisher at large Dan Weiss is resigning on October 30 after 4 years with the company. He can be reached at dweissco@gmail.com. Weiss will focus on consulting, strategic investment and philanthropy. Also at St. Martin’s, marketing manager Eileen Rothschild has been promoted to associate editor. She will also be the content coordinator for SMP’s e-originals. David Adams has joined Open Road Media as an associate acquisitions editor. Previously he was a literary scout with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, and before then an […]
Ten Possible Bidders Still Vying for IMG
The ongoing auction for agency IMG has culled the initial field of 20 or more potential bidders down to ten candidates, in a sale expected to garner $2 billion or more. The NY Post reported that still active bidders include CAA (backed by TPG) and William Morris Endeavor (backed by Silver Lake), as well as private equity firms KKR and New Mountain Capital; Bain; CVC Capital in partnership with The Chernin Group as well as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Bahrain’s Mumtalakat; and Carlyle Group. Lagardere is among those no longer in contention, though former ICM owner Rizvi Traverse […]