President Joe Biden said he will nominate attorney Jonathan Kanter to run the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. As a private attorney, Kanter represented companies — including News Corp. — in legal actions against tech giants including Google and Apple. As the White House statement notes, “Throughout his career, Kanter has also been a leading advocate and expert in the effort to promote strong and meaningful antitrust enforcement and competition policy.” His boutique firm The Kanter Law Group “advocates in favor of federal and state antitrust law enforcement.” That appointment aligns with a sweeping executive order from the White House […]
Epic Sold to India’s Byju for $500 Million; McEvoy Sells I See Me
Digital reading platform for kids Epic has been sold to India’s most valuable startup Byju for $500 million in cash and stock. (TechCrunch first reported the two parties in sale talks in March.) Epic says its user base includes 2 million teachers and 50 million students, and was fueled by at least $51 million in venture capital. Byju founder and ceo Byju Raveendran suggests that Epic’s revenues are appoximately $100 million this year. Presumably the platform’s continued growth will be good for the publishers that license their content to the subscription service. Reportedly Epic soon expand to India and other […]
AAP May Stats Are A Split Screen
The AAP released their StatShot report for publisher-reported May sales with print book shipments remaining strong — and adult sales in particular — even as consumer sales reflected some falling back to earth with more moderate growth in digital audio and a drop in ebook sales. Total trade sales of $633 million were still up $53 million (or 9.1 percent) compared to $580 million in 2020 — but that was when the business was still grappling with the early stages of the pandemic, and before the June burst in sales of books by Black authors that helped lead the year’s […]
Obituary: Lynn Franklin
Literary agent and scout Lynn C. Franklin, 74, died July 19 after a lengthy battle with cancer. After founding her eponymous scouting agency in 1978, she partnered with Todd Siegal to form Franklin & Siegal Associates in 1992. She was also the author of May the Circle Be Unbroken, which looked at adoption from all perspectives and includes an account of her reunion in 1993 with her birth son. The company notes, “Lynn will be remembered as a trailblazing pioneer in the world of international scouting with a strong love of her many friends worldwide.” Information on a memorial service will […]
More On Scholastic: Lucchese to Inherit Robinson’s Controlling Shares
SEC filings further illuminate the bigger story overlooked yesterday: Scholastic executive Iole Lucchese’s ascent to chair of the company’s board, while continuing to serve as evp, chief strategy officer. In early July, the Surrogate’s Court issued preliminary letters appointing Lucchese as executor of the late Richard Robinson’s estate. Furthermore, she is “also expected to be the sole beneficiary” (e.g. inherit) Robinson’s special Class A shares — which gave him control of the company — “after probate is completed.” As the filing notes in its official language, “Consequently, Ms. Lucchese may be deemed to control the Registrant” (i.e. Scholastic). As executor, […]
Obituaries
Co-founder of Andrews McMeel Universal John McMeel, 85, died on July 7. He “never really retired, his wife said. At his death he was the company’s chairman emeritus.” The NYT notes, “Indefatigably sunny, Mr. McMeel had the optimism — and the stamina — of a true salesman.” Company chair Hugh Andrews — son of Kathy Andrews, who died earlier this year — said, “John was one of the most dynamic, energetic, and positive personalities one might ever encounter. His unwavering optimism, enthusiasm, and true passion for life – and most of all, for people – was evident in everything he […]