Spotify announced the release of its first “bookcast,” an audiobook/podcast hybrid of portions of Dolly Parton and James Patterson’s Run, Rose, Run. The bookcast combines excerpts of the audiobook narration with songs Parton wrote and recorded as the soundtrack for the book. The project functions as a preview for the novel (out March 7) and the soundtrack (out March 4). The first two four-minute episodes are available now, with another released next week and the last six dropping on March 7, when the book is available. “This unique audio experience exemplifies the limitless potential of audio and Spotify’s commitment to […]
People 2/24
Gina Gagliano has been named executive director of the Boston Book Festival.
M&A: Hachette Livre to Acquire Board Game Publisher
Hachette Livre has entered an agreement with shareholders to acquire a majority stake in independent French board game company La Boîte de Jeu. The company will lend its expertise in crowdfunding new projects through Kickstarter to the Hachette Boardgames division. Benoit Bannier “will remain at the helm” and Hachette Boardgames ceo Isabelle Jeuge-Maynart will become La Boîte de Jeu’s chairman. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of the month, subject to customary conditions precedent.
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards announced winners in 8 literary categories.
People 2/23
Janine Le launched Janine Le Literary Agency. She was most recently agent and foreign rights manager at Sheldon Fogelman Agency.
Vivendi Increases Lagardere Takeover Offer
As expected, Vivendi filed its official tender offer for the remaining shares of Lagardere on Monday with the French competition authority (Autorité des marchés financiers) for approval. The offer includes a new enticement to accelerate the completion of the deal: For Lagardere shareholders who elect to sell their stock immediately, through May 20, Vivendi will pay €25.50 a share, an increase of €1.40 a share over what they paid Amber Capital in December and are required to offer others. (The increased offer bundles in the proposed €.50 a share dividend that awaits approval at the company’s annual meeting, so effectively […]