Giant Canadian book retailer Chapters is reportedly telling Canadian book publishers they won’t be getting some of the chain’s fall orders until they agree to give higher discounts to Pegasus, the retailer’s wholesale subsidiary. – Toronto Globe and Mail
PLUS: SANTA CRUZ FIGHTS THE ARRIVAL OF BORDERS – Publisher’s Weekly 9/13/99
Blog
CONGRESS IS WATCHING
Let’s see, no more Monica – what’ll we do next? Some members of Congress want to scrutinize Hollywood sex and violence. A new round of culture wars? NPR Morning Edition
STAGE SCRUM
Andrew Lloyd-Webber and playwright-comedian Ben Elton are collaborating on a new musical about football, based on the true story of IRA hunger-striker Bobby Sands. The Beautiful Game is planned for an autumn 2000 West End premiere. Playbill
Ratings for the web
They work for movies, but they’re a very bad idea online. Arizona Daily Star
LIST SWAPPING
An Inspector General’s report has concluded that 53 radio and television stations in the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio systems have swapped donor lists with political organizations. This news as Ervin Duggan — PBS’ president and chief executive officer for five years — announced he was stepping down. Philanthropy News Network
PLUS: Read the IG’s report
THE CBS-VIACOM MARRIAGE
Will Simon & Schuster end up an orphan?
Publisher’s Weekly
PLUS: NEW YORK MAGAZINE COLUMNIST says merger isn’t about synergy, it’s the stock price.
NERO’S MOTHER’S HOME
Workers digging a new road near the Vatican have discovered a frescoed wall that experts believe might be part of the emperor’s mother’s house. – CBC
DANCE MUSIC IS THE JAZZ OF THE ’90s
So says this critic for the Irish Times. Unfortunately, the Irish and British governments are no fans. In 1994 they passed the Criminal Justice Act and Public Order Act, effectively outlawing many aspects of club culture. How similar to the social marginalization of the pre-Second World War jazz scene. – Irish Times
THE US IS ALREADY THE FIFTH LARGEST SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
But the market for Spanish books is as diverse as the Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Central Americans and other Latinos within it. – Publisher’s Weekly
The New York Times Bestseller list
Amazon, the online retailer, recently marshaled its attorneys for the right to use the list in its marketing. Now book superstore Barnes & Noble has announced it doesn’t want to use the list at all. What’s the fuss about? – New York Times