AGP Executive Report

Copyright & Piracy: Award-winning Kenyan author Sue Nyathi says pirated copies of her Netflix-buzzed novel The Polygamist are being sold in a Nairobi shop, warning that knockoffs undercut legitimate authors, publishers, and booksellers. Publishing & Markets: OverDrive names Marc DeBevoise CEO, with founder Steve Potash moving to chairman, signaling a leadership reset for the library/ebook platform. Book Promotion: Publicist Liz H. Kelly will run a “Bring Your Book to Life” workshop for authors at WBNA-LA, pushing an 8-step publicity approach. Spanish-Language Expansion: Dr. Elaine Ruiz López’s The Fight for Equity in the Bronx lands in Spanish, aiming to broaden reach for its education and community equity story. Digital Publishing & AI: Rakuten Kobo rejects many AI-generated submissions after a surge of low-quality uploads, highlighting ongoing platform gatekeeping. Industry Tech: Korbyt rolls out new AI agents for digital signage management, including ScreenDetective and Launchpad 2.0, aimed at easier publishing and uptime.

Publishing & Books: Lilly Singh’s Lilly’s Library picked Lavanya Lakshmi’s debut novel Leave and Come Back for June, spotlighting South Asian family drama and romance. Library Costs: Rhode Island joined a multistate push to rein in e-book licensing costs for libraries. AI in Creative Work: Google reportedly invested ~$75M in A24 to bring DeepMind into filmmaking workflows, framed as support for creators rather than AI-generated films. Print/Media Industry: Tribune Publishing completed its purchase of Daily Herald, expanding its Chicago-area suburban newspaper footprint. Publishing Tech & Supply: Rakuten Kobo rejected 45% of AI-generated book submissions after a surge of uploads. Market & Consumer Context: US dollar steadied ahead of key inflation data; US stocks closed mixed as Big Tech slid. Travel Tech (adjacent): Nearshore IT teams are highlighted as a behind-the-scenes force keeping summer booking systems from crashing.

Smartphone Pricing Shock: Apple CEO Tim Cook warns memory and storage costs from the AI boom are “unavoidable,” with analysts expecting smartphone average prices to rise sharply—an industry-wide squeeze that could ripple into consumer electronics. Fed Legacy: Alan Greenspan, the Fed “maestro” who presided over a long expansion and later faced criticism tied to the 2008 crisis, has died at 100. World Cup Branding & Media: Levi’s turns FIFA’s “clean stadium” logo rules into a viral marketing moment by covering emblems across stores and social posts. Prime Day Deals: Amazon Prime Day runs June 23–26 with early discounts already live, pushing major savings across electronics, groceries, and more. Publishing/Books & Print Culture: Japan’s Kinokuniya is set to open a bookstore chain in Dhaka, while Australia faces pressure over publishing books too quickly. Sports Antitrust: Congress probes a 1961 sports broadcasting antitrust exemption as streaming changes how leagues sell rights. Local Business Tech: Nigeria’s service firms increasingly ditch marketplace fees for direct booking pages, keeping more revenue in-house.

EU Politics: Thousands marched in London calling for Britain to rejoin the EU, reviving debate over Brexit’s economic fallout and adding pressure to PM Keir Starmer. Food & Consumer Policy: A new CBO analysis says a GOP House bill could cut SNAP for 3.2 million people, shifting about $14B a year in costs onto states. Ohio Retail & Books: Ohio’s 2025 sales tax holiday runs Aug. 1–14, with exemptions including books (plus electronics, clothing, home goods, and plants). Publishing & Print Culture: China’s Beijing International Book Fair highlighted print’s role as a cross-cultural meeting point, even as digital reading keeps growing. Media Business: Sky TV’s $1 acquisition of New Zealand’s Three shows improved losses, with costs sharply down and local news now supplied under contract. Gaming & AI Ethics: Palworld’s studio says it won’t use generative AI, pushing back on claims and citing player demand. Tech & Pricing: Tim Cook warns Apple may face unavoidable price hikes from a global memory chip shortage. Book/Publishing Industry: Jujutsu Kaisen remains a print powerhouse, topping Circana BookScan’s adult graphic novel list for May.

Wildlife Crime Exposed: Laos and Thailand-linked enforcement actions seized ivory-like items, pangolin scales, rhino horns and 294 live animals at checkpoints, underscoring how cross-border trafficking is still thriving. Publishing & Books in the Spotlight: The New York Times hardcover fiction list for June 21 puts Ann Patchett’s “Whistler” at No. 1, while a new Madville Publishing poetry anthology, “White Winged Doves,” spotlights Atlanta poets and Stevie Nicks’ cultural afterglow. AI, Work and Trust: A Verizon CEO warns AI will replace a large share of customer-service roles as companies cut costs, and separate commentary argues trust is the real competitive edge for retailers like Costco, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Tech + Consumer Reality Checks: Real estate verification gets a spotlight as misinformation spreads, and iFixit-style repair culture pushes readers toward buying used devices and fixing instead of upgrading. Industry Watch: Icelandic film producers elected a new chair amid funding pressure, and Cannes Lions shortlists roll out with Australia picking up 25.

Keddie Cabin Murders: A new forensic push and a fresh book are reviving questions about the 1981 quadruple homicide in rural California, where a recovered hammer and DNA on medical tape keep the case open despite no arrest. Publishing & AI: A former Academy Press MD says AI will reshape, not replace publishing, while another piece argues the creator economy is broken because audiences don’t automatically translate into stable income. Books & formats: “Homebound,” a debut sci-fi novel spanning 1983 to 2586, was named a May 2026 Good Morning America Book Club pick, and a separate segment highlights the boom in audiobooks driving bigger fandoms. Industry news: Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot died in a plane crash, underscoring how media brands—from games to books—keep losing key creative leaders. Libraries as hubs: Kuwait’s libraries are being framed as affordable “third spaces” as officials look to turn them into community gathering points. Local reading culture: Shreve Memorial Library is rolling out free summer creative lab programs for teens and tweens.

AI & Publishing Policy: The 2026 International Publishing Forum in Beijing brought nearly 300 publishing leaders together to debate how AI should support human creativity, while stressing IP protection, authenticity, and fair compensation for creators. UAE Publishing Push: The Emirates Publishers Association is using the Beijing International Book Fair to deepen ties with Chinese publishers and expand Emirati publishing rights, with a dedicated stand and networking meetings. Creator Economy for Brands: HelloIP MCN’s founder Mao Jianfeng is pitching a platform-based system that routes brand video tasks to creators across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts—aiming to cut communication costs and speed global distribution. Media Trust & Editorial Gatekeeping: A Malaysian entertainment story revisits how print-era editors and journalists used fact-checking to protect artists from damaging gossip, contrasting it with today’s faster social-media posting. Book-to-Screen in Africa: A discussion asks why Nollywood hasn’t adapted books into TV series at the same pace as other markets, pointing to rights and production-cost hurdles. Privacy in Digital Books & Tech: A security researcher’s “Banned Book Library” prototype hides open-source digital books inside hacked smart lightbulbs, raising new questions about how “stealth” tech can spread content.

Publishing & Books: The Critic argues the “old-style” book world is shrinking as bestseller charts get driven by online buzz, not critics—while it also spotlights the Nibbies judging panel and the changing gatekeepers of UK publishing. Border & Media Oversight: A new investigation alleges medical neglect at San Diego’s Otay Mesa Detention Center, raising fresh questions about accountability in immigration detention. Health & Pets: UC Davis reports the first clinical use of nano-arthroscopy for canine TMJ, and the USDA approves a combined Lyme/leptospirosis vaccine for dogs. Science & Aging: A study links excess inhibitory brain connections in the prefrontal cortex to memory decline in aging, with similar deficits recreated in young animals. Food & Consumer Health: Which? highlights coffee’s antioxidant polyphenols and notes that paper filters may help avoid cholesterol-raising oils. Tech & Displays: TCL CSOT pushes ink-jet-printed OLED for monitors and notebooks, aiming to challenge Korean dominance. Local Culture: Danville’s “Live on North” festival kicks off summer with free music, food, and vendors.

Newspaper Launch in South Africa: Sekunjalo Group says it will roll out a new national paper, The National, with US and European backing, opening applications for roles via thenational.co.za and pitching it as a sustainable journalism and circulation push. Publishing & Print Culture: Glasgow’s Glasgow Times marks 150 years by printing 40,000 extra copies for primary pupils, with schools using the physical paper to spark reading and critical thinking. Book Trade Deals: Allen Lane acquired The Map of Europe: A History by Luka Ivan Jukic, signaling continued appetite for big, narrative history. Tech and Publishing Adjacent: Sony’s SEC filing suggests PlayStation is backing away from single-player first-party PC releases, while live-service titles may still land on PC. Consumer Media & Formats: A bookmobile initiative and “audio-only” bookstore coverage highlight how distribution formats keep evolving. AI, Work, and Layoffs: Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis argues layoffs are often driven by companies copying each other, not AI replacing workers. Apple Costs Hit Buyers: Tim Cook warns price hikes are unavoidable as AI-driven memory and storage costs surge.

Publishing & Print Industry: Sri Lanka’s printers’ trade push is back: Sri Lanka Print Expo 2026 runs June 19–21 in Colombo, with the National Print Excellence Awards on June 20, spotlighting printing, packaging, labelling and graphic communications. AI & Automation for Work: OpenAI rolled out a macOS-only “Record & Replay” plugin for Codex, letting users demonstrate tasks visually so the system turns them into reusable automation “skills” teams can share. Copyright & Big Tech: A porn-industry copyright fight is unfolding in federal court as Strike 3 Holdings accuses Meta of downloading films to train AI, with the case framed as a test of whether “copyright troll” tactics can survive scrutiny. Bookselling Culture: A “bookstore on wheels” is bringing popular titles to the Brownsburg Farmers Market via the Red Rooster Book Barn trailer, blending community storytelling with mobile retail. Housing & Rent Policy: Pasadena’s Rent Stabilization Board is set to set a 2.5% cap for covered units for the coming year, while a separate “Chats & Snacks” housing-counselor event expands tenant-rights guidance for renters. Healthcare Finance: Parkview Health says a Moody’s credit downgrade won’t slow its expansion plans, even as new nonprofit pricing rules squeeze revenue and cash flow.

AI & Newsroom Trust: New research in Digital Journalism finds audiences trust outlets more when they require human review of AI content, and it also explores how disclosure about AI use can cut both ways for credibility. Tech & Consumer Costs: Apple CEO Tim Cook warns iPhone/Mac/iPad price hikes are “unavoidable” as memory and storage chip costs surge, with the AI boom tightening supply. US Chipmaking Push: Trump says Apple will partner with Intel to make chips in the US, echoing a broader push to bring manufacturing home. Publishing & Rights: Warner Bros. has acquired rights to Tahereh Mafi’s bestselling Shatter Me series, adding to the book-to-screen pipeline. Local Publishing & Community: A 189-year-old local newspaper office in Downpatrick has been sold after the title’s closure, with the paper revived as an edition of the Mourne Observer. Book Culture: Heritage Auctions’ June 19-21 sale spotlights rare animation and classic pop-culture art tied to How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Children’s Books & Politics: JD Vance’s memoir launch faces a viral counter-campaign from a children’s inclusion picture book, turning social media into a publishing battleground.

Manga & Publishing: Takeru Hokazono’s hit Kagurabachi goes on hiatus until August, pausing new chapters in Weekly Shonen Jump after a “sudden illness,” with digital English releases continuing via Viz’s Shonen Jump and Shueisha’s MANGA Plus. Hybrid Publishing: Manhattan Book Group touts awards and expands U.S. services, adding print/ebook production, distribution, and marketing support plus endorsement access through MindStir Media. Self-Publishing Industry: MindStir Media also highlights Newsweek recognition as a top U.S. self-publishing provider, reinforcing demand for guided publishing and promotion. Comics & Culture: Comic conventions spotlight more creators of color, with Phoenix Fan Fusion coverage pointing to growing audience pull and ongoing debates around representation. Media/Books Ecosystem: A separate report on community newspapers’ awards underscores how local journalism still trains the next generation even as digital shifts accelerate.

Defense & Industry: At Eurosatory near Paris, Europe’s defense optimism is hit by fresh doubt over the Future Combat Air System, with Germany and France deadlocked and the joint sixth-gen fighter program effectively collapsing. Media Ownership: In France, LVMH’s control of business titles like Les Echos and L’Agefi faces scrutiny as complaints challenge whether billionaire ownership is reshaping editorial independence. Publishing & Screen Rights: Frankfurt Book Fair partners on a book-to-screen push aimed at building a market for literature across central and eastern Europe. Local Publishing/Community: A Japanese-language daily in Manila, The Daily Manila Shimbun, has suspended publication after staff departures and unpaid wages, underscoring the fragility of print news. Consumer & Bookselling: Amazon Prime launches in South Africa with aggressive pricing and free delivery perks, intensifying pressure on local retail and streaming rivals. Health Guidance: The AGA updates recommendations for managing C. difficile in inflammatory bowel disease, favoring fidaxomicin and continuing IBD therapy. Housing: North Dakota updates eligibility limits for first-time homebuyer assistance programs. Tech & Healthcare: Shenzhen University touts a photonic AI platform for medical diagnosis, aiming to replace electrons with photons for faster, lower-power testing.

Jewish Culture Month: Britain’s Board of Deputies used “Less Oy, More Joy” to spotlight Jewish writers, musicians and artists across 150+ events, pushing identity beyond conflict. Local Media Survival: The Anchorage Press is being relaunched after buying the assets of the Anchorage Press, while other small papers have shut down amid inflation and industry strain. Food Access & Community Markets: Reiske Park Farmers Market delays its launch to June 23 due to weather, with FoodShare-friendly shopping and nonprofit booths planned. Publishing & Print Industry: The Denver Post reaches a $13.5m settlement with the city over unpaid rent, agreeing to remove its name from a landmark building. AI & Music Labels: A survey suggests most listeners can’t tell AI music from human-made tracks, renewing calls for clear labeling as streaming platforms and rights holders clash. Drug Repurposing Research: Universities and hospitals are running late-stage trials using existing drugs at far lower cost than pharma, aiming to expand affordable treatments. SpaceX IPO Fallout: SpaceX’s market debut keeps reshaping business headlines, with its stock surge boosting its global ranking.

Independent Publishing & Media Business: Ron Charles’ shift from The Washington Post to a Substack book-review model shows how critics are rebuilding audiences outside legacy outlets, while a separate report on the “editor’s dilemma” spotlights newsroom pressure to balance speed, accuracy, and harm prevention as misinformation spreads fast on social platforms. Book Industry & Access: A “bookless bookstore” concept (audio-only) and ongoing coverage of independent bookstores’ revival point to new formats for reaching readers, alongside local library programming that keeps community reading habits alive. Publishing Tech & AI: Artist Included’s “ethical, artist-approved” voice AI rerecordings—paired with ownership-focused deals—adds to the week’s publishing-adjacent debate over AI use policies and who benefits from new recordings. Market & Consumer Signals: ChatGPT’s app still leads by monthly users, but Claude’s higher revenue per user underlines the monetization race that publishers and media platforms are watching closely. Local Journalism Under Strain: Stories on newspaper closures and “news deserts” reinforce how fragile local coverage is, even as communities try to keep books and reading central.

AI & Regulation: The U.S. ordered Anthropic to restrict access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models over security concerns, triggering a transparency backlash as critics said requests were quietly rerouted to weaker systems. Publishing & Books: Simon & Schuster made backlist titles available via The Black List’s database, while Monopoly is getting a Sarah J. Maas tie-in with “A Court of Thorns and Roses” themed gameplay and book-like components. Print & Industry Events: FESPA 2026 in Barcelona drew 24,798 visitors from 126 countries, expanding into textile and corrugated showcases and adding more conference programming. Local Book Culture: Harvard Book Store is opening a new Boston location near Faneuil Hall, and Hudson’s Chapter2Books is partnering with Ted Blank Luxury for a transatlantic literature cruise launching in 2027. Tech & Semiconductors: China’s Enflame Technology cleared STAR Market IPO review approval, a milestone for domestic GPU and AI chip development. Consumer/Media: EU lawmakers struck a deal to update air passenger rights, preserving compensation for delays while tightening fare transparency and claims procedures.