Amazon announced Monday that it will issue a “new” edition of its wi-fi Kindle priced at $114, $25 less than the going rate for the current wireless edition. The catch–or hook, depending on your vantage point–is that this edition, which ships starting on May 3, will feature Special Offers, the retailer’s preferred name for ads that will run on the e-reader’s home page and screen savers. Among the deals on offer for the first few weeks include discounted Amazon gift cards, discounts on other Amazon products like jeans and swimsuits, and free gifts for signing up for an Amazon Rewards […]
Nelson’s Hyatt Steps Aside from CEO Job, and More People News
Thomas Nelson CEO Mike Hyatt “is stepping out of active management” though he will serve as chairman of the board. Current president and coo Mark Schoenwald is taking over as ceo. Hyatt will advise on company leadership and “represent the company by positively influencing authors, the media, and consumers while more actively pursuing his outside interests such as speaking and writing.” REDGroup Retail chairman Steven Cain has left the company for personal reasons, according to a spokesperson for the retail chain’s administrators. Replacing him is Gary Dunne, who joined in January. Group brand and strategy director Alison Smith has also […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, April 11
Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time to put them all together. “nice deal” $1 – $49,000 “very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000 “good deal” $100,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000 “major deal” $500,000 and up FICTION Debut Filmmaker and creator of Lost, Alias, Felicity, and Fringe J.J. Abrams’s […]
Briefs: US Trustee Objects to Borders Executive Bonuses; Indigo Faces Its ‘Starbucks Moment’; Kobo European Push; and More
Last week Tracy Hope Davis of the US Trustee’s Office filed an objection to Borders’ plan to pay executives up to $8.3 million in bonuses on the grounds that the bonus motion “is premature and should not be granted.” Borders had characterized the bonus plan as “providing necessary incentives” but the Trustee’s Office felt “there is no information that explains what extra services the insiders would perform beyond their ordinary job duties or a detailed description of the nexus between the supposed incentives and the payment trigger.” In addition, Davis said, the motion “provides no financial performance metrics nor are […]
Frankfurt to Expand Rights Center
While today’s focus is on a full London Book Fair, where the rights center has sold out its 575 tables, organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair have announced the expansion and reenvisioning their rights center. Previously located on part of one floor in hall 6, this year it will encompass all of hall 6. A new StoryDrive Business Center will comprise part of that expanded agents center, presenting “a new meeting place for representatives of the film, games and book industries.” FBF director Juergen Boos underscores that in the digital transition, “the business of content has taken on even more […]
Random Adds Fiction Line, Hogarth, to Crown in the US and Chatto in the UK
Random House begins the London Book Fair by announcing a new fiction imprint, Hogarth, which is part of the Crown Publishing Group in the US and part of Chatto & Windus in the UK. Molly Stern will lead the US line, which aims to publish eight to 10 books a year, and Clara Farmer will lead the UK version, which will issue a smaller list drawing from the US titles. The announcement says the units will have “a close, but non-exclusive, editorial relationship.” Lindsay Sagnette and Zachary Wagman are also acquiring for the US list; Becky Hardie and Poppy Hampson […]