The pre-publication rollout of Walter Isaacson’s Tuesday release ELON MUSK took an unexpected turn after a sensational disclosure in one excerpt in the Washington Post was refuted by Musk himself and then corrected by Isaacson. Isaacson billed the excerpt as “the inside story of how Musk used Starlink to help Ukraine, then pulled back one tense Friday night.” In the incident in question, “The Ukrainian military was attempting a sneak attack on the Russian naval fleet based at Sevastopol in Crimea by sending six small drone submarines packed with explosives, and it was using Starlink to guide them to the […]
An Exclusive Britney Spears Excerpt
The fall release schedule is packed, including celebrity memoirs spanning the wide range from Britney Spears (The Woman In Me; 10/24) to former Macmillan Publishers ceo John Sargent (Turning Pages; 9/19). Below, we bring those two together in a pre-publication excerpt. The book is told in Sargent’s inimitable voice, with stories from his unusual childhood, adventures and misadventures on the slopes and in the surf, and a number of publishing tales — from indelible personalities and notable authors to battles over agency ebook pricing, the publication of FIRE AND FURY and, ultimately, his own job. The chapter on the latter […]
New KDP Guidelines Require Participants to Acknowledge AI-Generated Content
Amazon revised their KDP publishing content guidelines recently to add a section that requires participants to indicate when they have used AI tools to create elements of any submitted book. The service distinguishes between “AI-assisted” work — which does not need to be disclosed — and “AI-generated content,” which does need to be acknowledged. They “define AI-generated content as text, images, or translations created by an AI-based tool. If you used an AI-based tool to create the actual content (whether text, images, or translations), it is considered ‘AI-generated,’ even if you applied substantial edits afterwards.” In contrast, AI-assisted work is […]
Spotify Readies Offer of Free Audiobooks for Subscribers
Spotify has been talking a big audiobook game for a while without really doing anything. Now, the WSJ reports, “Spotify plans to test a free audiobook bundle for its paying subscribers in the coming months.” Sources tell the WSJ the pilot program “would allow subscribers to listen to up to 20 hours of audiobooks a month at no additional cost.” Titles and compensation remain unclear: “The scope of titles available through the program is expected to be broad, but is still being finalized.” It’s expected to be a limited-time offer that will “likely” be made in English-speaking countries, including the […]
Indigo’s New CEO Resigns
In a year of notable and often unexplained departures, Indigo Books’ new ceo Peter Ruis is the latest to depart abruptly: The company announced his apparent immediate resignation on Thursday. Ruis “has agreed to serve Indigo as a consultant for the next two months to support a smooth transition in leadership.” But the transition has been anything but smooth. Ruis joined the company in early 2021, and moved up to ceo just under a year ago. Longtime ceo and board chair (as well as founder and controlling owner) Heather Reisman retired from the company just about two weeks ago. And […]
As Expected, Majority Control of CAA Sold to Pinault Family’s Artemis by TPG
In alignment with previous news reports, private equity firm TPG will exit their 13-year involvement at CAA in a deal to sell their 53 percent stake to Artemis, the Pinault family’s investment company. (According to earlier reports, the deal is worth approximately $7 billion.) The transaction is expected to be completed later this year, “subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.” CAA’s leaders Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, and Richard Lovett have “each made long-term commitments to continue leading the agency and will remain” as co-chairs. After the deal closes, Lourd is expected to be named CEO. Singapore-based investment firm […]