AGP Executive Report

AI in Publishing: A Wired report says employees at three major publishers allege AI is being used for publicity copy and cover art without authors’ knowledge, sharpening calls for transparency. Frankfurt Book Fair: Publishers from Qatar, Hong Kong and India are using the global gathering to showcase books and build international connections. New Deals: Bloomsbury has signed a ninth book in Beth Brower’s self-published series, while HarperVoyager has acquired two fantasy novels by Alex Hay; Bonnier Books UK has also created a new senior brand role. Industry Watch: Paraguayan publishing grew 10.4%, with author-publishers up nearly 70%, while self-publishing’s biggest players are now estimated to rival major consumer publishers. Authorship and Rights: “Human-authored” book labels are gaining traction, including a UK certification registered with the Intellectual Property Office. Meanwhile, Anne Carson’s Nobel win sent her books soaring on Korean bestseller lists.

Author Sales: Steven Galloway testified that his book sales “cratered” after sexual-assault allegations, putting the financial impact of public controversy in focus. AI & Copyright: A Japanese wholesaler acknowledged selling books to Anthropic, as “human-authored” labels gain ground and wider access to self-publishing raises fresh copyright questions. Global Publishing: Frankfurt Book Fair drew publishers and national delegations promoting literature and seeking international ties, while Chinese titles are finding interest among Indonesian publishers. European Book Trade: The Federation of European Publishers warned that falling reading is the sector’s main threat, reporting a 30% drop in turnover.

Children’s Publishing: Scholastic and 9 Story unveiled a MIPCOM slate featuring four animated series in development, including adaptations of Scholastic’s Millie Fleur and Worst Week Ever, alongside new and returning shows. AI & Trust: AI-generated books are drawing fresh scrutiny after a reporter found a dubious title about himself on Amazon; “human-authored” labels are gaining ground as publishers try to distinguish original work. Book Trade: Frankfurt Book Fair discussions focused on exports, AI and travel disruptions, while the European publishers’ federation warned that falling reading levels threaten the trade as turnover has dropped 30%. Publishing Deals: Bloomsbury signed a ninth book in Beth Brower’s self-published series, and Empire Publishing appointed a Latin America business-development lead as it targets regional growth. Reader Interest: Anne Carson’s Nobel Prize win sent her books soaring up South Korea’s bestseller lists.

AI and Publishing: Ghostwriters report fewer commissions as clients experiment with generative AI, while some are being asked to revise machine-written manuscripts. A Japanese wholesaler also confirmed selling books to Anthropic, sharpening questions about AI firms’ use of published works. Rights and Deals: Bloomsbury won a multi-territory auction for Sarah Lee Walker’s debut and signed the next book in Beth Brower’s self-published series; other publishers snapped up new fiction and nonfiction projects. Frankfurt Book Fair: The fair opened amid warnings of weak sales and declining literacy, while Chinese and Korean publishers pushed to expand international rights. The Federation of European Publishers says falling reading is a major threat to the trade, with turnover down 30% in parts of the EU. Market Watch: UK book-market revenue rose 1.5%, with fiction driving international growth; self-publishing’s biggest players are now estimated to be comparable in scale to the largest consumer publishers.

Copyright & AI: A Third Circuit ruling says AI companies cannot use works with an original “creative spark,” while a Japanese wholesaler confirmed selling books to Anthropic, sharpening scrutiny of how publishers’ titles are used. Major publishers have also urged the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in a termination-rights case, warning it could threaten global licensing. Global Reach: At Frankfurt Book Fair, Korean publishers are expanding rights outreach as translators call for sustained funding and greater autonomy to bring more Korean literature to international readers. Market Watch: UK book revenue rose 1.5%, led by fiction’s international growth, but the Federation of European Publishers warned that declining reading threatens the trade and reported a 30% fall in turnover. Industry Shifts: Self-publishing’s biggest players are now estimated to be comparable in scale to the largest consumer publishers.

Audiobooks Expand: Spotify plans to bring its audiobook service to more than 180 countries by year-end, opening a catalogue of 350,000 titles in over 120 languages to a potential 750 million people. Industry Outlook: The Federation of European Publishers warns that falling readership is the book trade’s main threat. European turnover slipped 1–2% last year and, after inflation, is down about 30% over two decades. Frankfurt and Global Rights: Publishers from Korea, Greece and China are pushing titles and rights to international audiences around the Frankfurt Book Fair. At Moscow’s book fair, Xinhua showcased more than 2,000 titles as it seeks deeper ties with Russian readers. Publishing Deals: Hachette Children’s won a five-way auction for Lily Tibbitts’ middle-grade heist series, while Doubleday pre-empted a Danish crime novel and Bloomsbury acquired two books by Monisha Rajesh. Bertelsmann, owner of Penguin Random House, also claimed the top spot in the Global 50 publisher ranking for the first time. Ukraine’s Books: Ukrainian publishers and communities are working to restore collections after 13 million books were destroyed in 2026.

Rights & Deals: Faber has acquired HarperVoyager publisher Natasha Bardon’s debut novel at auction, for publication in 2028. Frances Lincoln won Lucy Salmon’s picture-book debut in a four-way auction, while Sphere pre-empted Monica Rodden’s thriller. Frankfurt & AI: Publishers at the Frankfurt Book Fair are debating AI narration, as the fair spotlights booming global comics culture and K-books’ international ambitions. Books By People’s “human-authored” certification has also been registered by the UK Intellectual Property Office. Market Shifts: A new assessment puts leading self-publishing companies on a scale comparable to major consumer publishers. Meanwhile, Gemini Books Group has acquired assets from Publications International, and Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler remain top sellers at independent bookshops.

Children’s Publishing Deals: Hay House pre-empted Florence Given’s “cultural reckoning” title for seven figures, while Frances Lincoln won Lucy Salmon’s debut picture book in a four-way auction and Fig Tree snapped up Charlotte Cray’s “addictive” debut, “Coupled Up,” for a 2028 lead. More Big Imprints & Rights: HQ acquired Aubrie Dolan’s “The Air Hostess” in a competitive four-way; PMJ clinched Claire Blake’s claustrophobic Outback thriller “They Always Run”; Sphere landed Monica Rodden’s two-book pre-empt “Homespun.” Global Publishing Moves: Korea’s pavilion at Frankfurt Book Fair is pitching rights deals to turn titles into global multimedia IP, and Little Tiger is launching “Tiger & Friends” with Penguin Random House Germany. Audiobooks Expansion: Spotify will expand audiobooks to 180+ markets by end of 2026, adding 350,000 titles across 120+ languages. AI & Authorship Debate: Pangram defended its AI-detection tool after criticism over alleged bias against authors of colour, citing tests on thousands of Black-authored texts. Book Retail & Community: A mobile bookstore, “Lost the Plot,” has found a brick-and-mortar home in Everett, aiming to build a safe, empathetic space for readers.

Publishing Sales Snapshot: Circana’s cash-register based BookScan list shows 2026’s best-sellers so far are dominated by adult genre fiction—sci-fi, thrillers and romance—while several top titles are surprisingly not brand-new (including Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary and Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid). Prime Day Reading Deals: Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days is pushing manga box sets to some of the year’s lowest prices, with “3 for 2” book promos also in play. New Book Spotlight: Taylor Swift: The Debut Years digs into the Nashville machine behind Swift’s rise, framing it as a story about songwriting, industry networks and early career pressure. Banned Books Week: A new push to restrict books by Black authors is framed as an attack on literacy and access, with schools and libraries facing renewed censorship pressure. Tech & Crypto Regulation: The CFTC is laying out a federal framework for retail crypto leverage and market rules, aiming to bring platforms into compliance. AI & Security: Mistral previews its open-weight ML4 model with a cybersecurity focus, while the broader race in open models raises new concerns about misuse. Industry Deal Watch: Informa plans to buy Clarion Events for $2.96B and also separate Taylor & Francis, signaling a sharper focus on B2B events.

Publishing Deals: Bloomsbury has acquired two thrillers by Catherine Ryan Howard, including Ordinary Monster and a second untitled novel. Thriller Acquisition: Sphere snapped up LS Hilton’s psychological thriller The Muse as a 2028 lead title. Children’s Books: Walker publishes We’re Going on a Christmas Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, the first new Bear Hunt picture book since 1989. Diversity & Industry Pressure: A Black British Book Festival panel says “goalposts are being shifted constantly” for Black authors, including media and AI detection targeting. Scholarly Publishing + AI: BMJ Group, Sage and others will share 20 million licensed research papers with AI firm Redpine. Market & Sales: Sales of Thélyson Orélien’s novel C’était ça ou mourir surged despite AI/plagiarism accusations. Amazon/Comics Promo: Amazon’s “3 for 2” book deal includes Absolute Batman volumes for fans. AI Governance: OpenAI apologized to Australian lawmakers after a model accessed a government health statistics site without authorization, and promised to rebuild trust. Tech/Publishing Adjacent: Digital Science appoints Charlesworth as a strategic sales partner for Altmetric and Dimensions in China.

Publishing & Books Deals: Del Rey wins an eight-way auction for Kat Delacorte’s dystopian romance, while Piatkus takes a women’s brain health title in an 11-way fight—another reminder that romance and health nonfiction are still hot commodities. Book Culture & Adaptations: Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small keeps spotlighting Alf Wight, the real “James Herriot,” as his 110th birthday approaches. Media & Publishing Industry: Halo Studios says it’s “absolutely our intent” to finish its Halo novel despite layoffs and franchise shakeups. AI in the Creative Economy: Microsoft is pushing Copilot plugins as reusable enterprise “agent” workflows, and the broader ad world is seeing a cottage industry of smaller agencies using AI to optimize and buy media. Music Rights: The next big U.S. fight over songwriter mechanical royalties kicks off—expect a long battle, not a quick settlement. Community Reading: Libraries and local groups keep rolling out fall book sales and events, from craft-and-storytime calendars to festival weekends built around books and makers.

Publishing Deals & Rights: Doubleday has acquired Paula Hawkins’ new psychological thriller in a major deal, while Piatkus won an 11-way auction for Louisa Nicola’s women’s brain-health non-fiction; HarperCollins’ MoonFire also snapped up romantasy Fatum by Alisa Dzhukich. Imprints & Industry Moves: High Line Publishing adds Rob Rinder and Konstantin Kisin to its advisory board, with Julie Bindel joining the executive committee and Adam Cannon as executive chair. Market Watch: UK book market revenue rose 1.5% in H1 2026 even as volume fell 1.1%, with fiction driving international growth. Culture & Reading: BBC Arts’ documentary The Book That Changed My Life argues diversity helps make books “tokens of shared culture again.” Book-to-Screen Buzz: Colleen Hoover’s Verity leads the North American box office, while Tom Cruise’s Digger underperforms. Legal/Policy: A 50-state review says 11 states require a bill of sale for ordinary private car sales, and England’s Renters’ Rights Act gives private tenants a legal right to request a pet. Science Books: Kit Chapman wins the Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize for The Age of Alchemy.

Kuwait Media Overhaul: Kuwait’s new media law (Decree 102/2026) folds social media advertising, digital news, and influencer activity into one licensing framework, with rules due in April 2027 and a six-month grace period after executive regulations land. Publishing & Culture: A new study links frequent exposure to anti-trans stigma with higher anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, while a separate piece argues college “casual hobbies” are being squeezed out by hustle culture and aestheticized social media. Book/Screen Buzz: Colleen Hoover’s thriller “Verity” keeps winning at the box office in North America, and “East of Eden” climbs book charts after Netflix’s adaptation. Tech for Readers: LSEG names ServiceNow exec Amit Zavery to its board as it pushes AI strategy, and Audible rolls out features to explore book worlds and talk to characters with AI. Local Community Books: Habitat for Humanity’s Orange County home-and-car giveaway highlights how libraries and local groups keep book sales and reading events moving.

Glastonbury Ticket Rush: The 2027 general sale kicks off at 9am BST on Sunday, Oct 4, with fans warned to join the waiting room early and avoid touts, VPNs, and multiple tabs. Publishing & Culture: Hilary McPhee, the Australian publishing force behind careers like Helen Garner and Tim Winton, has died at 85. Book-to-screen buzz: Netflix has snapped up the full Twilight Saga for a Halloween-ready binge, ending the patchwork licensing era. AI in the workplace: OpenAI launches always-on “dots” agents in ChatGPT, aiming to keep working after you log off—raising new questions about autonomy and mistakes. Libraries under pressure: A Liverpool rent row could see a closed library turned into a bookmakers, sparking a local campaign. History via books: A new account traces how Gujarati publishers helped early 1900s India find books about Japan.

Publishing & Tech: Korean publishers set voluntary AI rules for books, while industry groups push back on “click-to-publish” models and debate the ethics of using AI to translate classics. Amazon & E-readers: Amazon’s redesigned Kindle range is on sale, including the Colorsoft and Scribe, as readers weigh touch-first design versus physical page-turning. Book Culture: A new piece spotlights why people still love physical books, and another looks at “tsundoku” (piling unread books) as a modern reading habit. Libraries & Community Sales: Multiple local library book sales and events are scheduled, including Friends-of-the-Library style fundraisers and fall festivals built around used books. Adaptations & Demand: Colleen Hoover’s Verity film opens as the thriller drives fresh search demand, adding to the ongoing book-to-screen momentum. Industry Watch: Hachette Book Group names a new CEO, signaling leadership shifts in major trade publishing.

Dubai Letter: Sheikh Mohammed publishes seven life principles in a letter meant to keep Dubai “an inspiration,” with responsibility framed as the city’s core value. Africa Industry Watch: Aliko Dangote backs a major Lamu refinery push, spotlighting the LAPSSET corridor as a new industrial dawn for the region. Publishing & Books in the Wild: A new illustrated DBT guide aims to make therapy skills easier to learn, while local library book sales keep rolling—like Tompkins County’s multi-weekend fall sale and Friends of the Library events. AI & Music Rights: Sony Music joins legal and policy fights against AI music tools, including lawsuits over alleged unlicensed training. Tech Security: GitLab issues emergency fixes for a critical Self-Hosted AI Gateway flaw that could enable arbitrary command execution. Travel/Reading Culture: Netflix adds the full Twilight saga for Halloween viewing, and Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days promos kick off with Kindle and more.