AGP Executive Report

Library & Community Events: North Baddesley Community Library will close July 3 and reopen Aug. 4, with volunteers keeping kids reading via school holiday visits and a Summer Reading Challenge restart. Publishing & Deals: Hodderscape signs Jamie Cass for a three-book deal for debut Starfall, adding to the dark-academia pipeline. Tech for Writers: Syncro Soft releases Oxygen AI Positron 8.3, adding stronger AI governance controls and new automation for XML workflows. IPO Watch (adjacent to publishing markets): Jersey Mike’s files for a U.S. IPO as listing momentum returns, aiming for NYSE “JMKE.” AI & Copyright Politics: A heated U.S. Congressional clash over AI training on copyrighted work spotlights the policy fight that could shape how creators get paid globally. Books & Culture: Cory Doctorow’s new AI-critical non-fiction The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI debuts at No. 1 in Canada. Local Reading Momentum: Friends of the Library annual book sale returns July 17–18.

Digital Publishing & Copyright: Australian creatives, led by APRA AMCOS, have petitioned Parliament over claims their songs were used to train AI without consent, pushing for stronger enforcement of existing copyright rules. Publisher Pressure: Digital Publishers Alliance chair Tim Duggan says big tech “predators” and government “paralysis” are squeezing Australian publishers, calling for urgent policy fixes as Junkee Media downsizes. Games Industry: Sony says it’s ending new PlayStation physical disc releases after January 2028, citing how players now access games digitally. AI in Everyday Work: Interest.co.nz reports on how a two-month AI project changed a reporter’s view—from skepticism and bad experiences to seeing AI as a workflow tool. Transport & Travel Tech: India’s second Vande Bharat Sleeper is set for Bengaluru–Mumbai, with 16 coaches and overnight comfort upgrades. Book & Publishing Culture: Sharjah’s “Library for Every Home” model is recognized globally for pushing books into family homes, reaching thousands of families with millions of books. Housing Policy: A Boston-area debate resurfaces around bringing back triple-deckers as one way to ease affordability pressures.

AI & Data Ethics: Reports say Anthropic embedded hidden telemetry in Claude Code, tracking developer behavior and command use while obscuring consent—fueling fears that AI firms are hitting a “data wall” and turning to proprietary code. Gaming Industry: Xbox faces rumors of a “largest single layoff event in gaming history,” with alleged cuts starting July 7—no official confirmation yet. Publishing & Rights Deals: Blink Publishing acquired Chris Olsen’s memoir I Think My Therapist Hates Me; Ebury Spotlight snapped up Get Back by Hunter Davies; and Libraries Connected received £65,770 from Arts Council England to improve library e-book partnerships with independent publishers. Book Retail & Community: Oxford gets a new bookstore; and local library summer reading rolls on with storytimes and book sales tied to community milestones. Manga Subscription: emaqi launched a US/Canada Premium tier ($6.99/month) with 400+ series and 2,000+ volumes from 10+ publishers. Local Events: Everson Summer Festival includes a Friends of the Everson Library book sale July 10–11.

AI & Copyright: Australian authors and artists call big tech “copyright crime” after AI scraping without permission, arguing creators should be asked and paid—while they say they’re not rushing to court. Publishing & Culture Events: Wellington’s Matariki Ahi Kā brings a free, whānau-friendly waterfront celebration (fire, projections, performances, kai) running 9–12 July. Book Trade & Community: Hawaii State FCU donates $20,000 to the Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi for its 77th Annual Book Sale. Travel Trends: Malaysia’s homestays are booming as “ambience tourism” grows—domestic homestay stays jump from 3.4% (2022) to 8.6% (2024), with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 projecting up to RM200m. Housing & Consumer Policy: New Zealand’s warranty/liability reforms for new homes get backing as advocates push for better insurance coverage for small builders. Business Courts: North Carolina’s business court places the stalled Cedars Lodge & Spa project into receivership, putting a receiver in charge of marketing and sale.

App Publishing & Creator Economy: Hop-on’s Digitalage iOS app got Apple App Store approval, moving the platform from invite-only testing toward a soft launch and creator monetization. Publishing Industry Watch: Bonnier Books UK reported 2025 revenue down 3% (to £79m) with margins “stable,” a reminder that print and trade economics are still under pressure. Book & Culture: Shannon Sanders’s multigenerational novel “The Great Wherever” gets a standout review for its ghostly, wry narrator and layered family storytelling. Food & Reading Crossover: “Grub: Why We Eat…” by Lee Cadesky is reviewed as ambitious but dense, with the best moments when science turns tangible. Community Libraries: Farewell to overdue fees—Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will drop most overdue fines starting July 1. Events & Markets: Dayton’s “Heirloom Market” series returns monthly through September, spotlighting local crafts and preserved stories. AI & Discovery: A comparison ranks AI search visibility tools for tracking prompts and tying visibility to outcomes, with Semrush leading.

Publishing & Books: A rare Christie’s London auction spotlighted a first-edition, three-volume set of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights (with Agnes Grey), with estimates now pushing into the low seven figures. Book Culture & Events: Jon Ronson is taking his new true-story book The Castle to New Zealand, Australia and Singapore, with tickets on pre-sale for the Auckland stop. Tech & Reading Platforms: Kobo says its long-awaited Kindle-rivalling feature is now live, while Apple’s CEO handover history gets a deep dive as John Ternus prepares to take over. Media Industry: Australia’s RACAT Group is ending youth title Punkee and shrinking Junkee into a leaner, creator-led model as ad-supported publishing gets tougher. AI, Privacy & Scams: WhatsApp is rolling out usernames so people can chat without sharing phone numbers, and Martin Lewis warns of deepfake investment frauds hitting victims’ life savings. Markets & IPOs (book-adjacent business news): Mynt (GCash parent) filed for an IPO that could raise up to $1.5b, while India’s TANFAC raised ₹250 crore via QIP and Knack Packaging’s IPO opens tomorrow.

Publishing & Books Market: UK print book sales are forecast to slip in 2026 as higher prices lift market value but unit volumes fall, with NielsenIQ BookData projecting 187.5m copies and £1.83bn in sales. Book-to-Screen Buzz: DC’s “Supergirl” is underperforming at the box office, reviving “Morbius/Morbed” comparisons after a $38m North America and $68m worldwide opening. New Book Spotlight: Mara Brock Akil’s debut novel “The Revelation of Dionne Daphne” lands June 30, promising a 90s-set story of secrets, sisterhood, and self-reinvention. Local Literacy Push: Galleria Dallas and Catch Up & Read launch “Score with Reading” (July 1–31) with storytimes and author-led activities to get first-time readers excited about books. Business of Valuation (for founders): Muriel Touati’s new “The Valuation Gap” argues buyers see founder dependency, customer concentration, revenue predictability, and the lack of a repeatable acquisition system. Crypto & Tech Disruption: Loopring shuts down its DEX/AMM after failing to gain adoption and being overtaken by newer zk solutions—another reminder that publishing-style “innovation” can still fade fast.

Literary Agency Launch (Northern Ireland): Maria Prince has stepped back from a 13-year university job to found Holywood-based Prince Literary, building a roster that spans academic researchers and emerging fiction writers. Publishing & Books (UAE–India): India is leaning harder on its overseas diaspora as NRI deposits hit about $166bn, with a UAE event spotlighting Mirza Hussain Al Sayegh’s memoir “A True Story.” Publishing Deals & Access (Spanish-language reach): Wisdom Bridge Authors says it’s opening doors for transformational books to reach 500 million Spanish-speaking readers. Local Book Ecosystem (Wellington): Wellington welcomes two new indie bookshops, part of a wider “reading renaissance.” Book-to-screen buzz: A new Netflix adaptation is framed as a potential boost for fantasy on streaming, while another Prime Video drama based on a bestselling novel is renewed for Season 2. Book industry & AI: Kobo rejected 45% of self-published books last year, mostly over AI concerns, fueling fresh debate over legitimacy in digital publishing. Connected MedTech & compliance: A Singapore summit highlights cybersecurity and compliance as deal-breakers in connected MedTech—an indirect reminder that publishing and tech both hinge on trust.

Local Arts & Community: Valparaiso’s inaugural Sand+Steel Art Fest drew crowds downtown, with hands-on wood art demos and pocket sketch-book activities at Central Park Plaza. Faith & Publishing: A devotional piece revisits Revelation’s letter to Laodicea, tying ancient context to modern life and referencing John Lennox’s book “God, AI and the End of History.” Local Search & Business Visibility: GMB Daddy says consistent Google Business Profile photo uploads boost local map-pack visibility, arguing for a steady cadence over bulk posting. Tech, Culture & Books: Ian Bogost’s forthcoming “The Small Stuff” argues tech has dematerialized everyday life, but pushes readers toward more sensory, gratifying living. Libraries & Summer Reading: Portage la Prairie Regional Library launches its “Dive In” TD Summer Reading Club plus themed events and a returning book-sale fundraiser. Film-to-Conversation Series: Strand Theatre’s “Postcards from Italy” pairs classic movies with talks by NYT critic A.O. Scott and TCM host Alicia Malone. Memoir Spotlight: Orillia author Susan Langlois self-published “Surviving the COVID Pandemic – Contents of a Diary,” turning handwritten journals into a conversation-starting memoir. Publishing Loss: Veteran Kannada journalist/filmmaker N.S. Shankar, author and director of “Ulta Palta,” has died at 67. Book Retail News: Anderson’s Toyshop is moving toys back into Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, aiming to pair playthings with children’s books.

Publishing & Education: A Malaysian lecturer turned micro/macro lessons into a US-themed board game, “US Econopoly,” using Monopoly-style play plus real-world economics like inflation, unemployment, bonds and tariffs. Kids’ Literacy & Screen Time: A Wolverhampton GP created “Alphabet Animals” activity books to help toddlers with letter recognition and fine motor skills without relying on screens. Theatre & Community Arts: Talk Is Free Theatre announced its 25th season will tackle power and oppression through new work in Barrie and Toronto, with international touring. Book Culture & Events: Mount Jackson’s “Mad Hatter’s Market and Tea” brought Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to life via a library trail and themed stations. Luxury Travel (Publishing-adjacent lifestyle): Hyatt will debut Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt all-inclusive resorts in Mexico by year-end. Gold & Money Ideas: A proposal for “Treasury Trust Bonds” would let investors redeem in dollars or gold, aiming to re-link the dollar with gold. Home & Consumer Crisis: UK homeowners say spray-foam loft insulation has made properties “unsellable,” with banks tightening finance.

Copyright & AI: A major U.S. court fight over whether AI can be trained on copyrighted recordings is heating up, with Sony Music v. Suno set for a July summary-judgment hearing and a tobacco-litigation law firm joining independent-artist lawsuits against Suno and Udio. Publishing & Accountability: Springer Nature says it’s still distributing about 200 Russian scientific journals via a partner despite its earlier break with Russia, as Ukrainian scholars raise concerns about links to sanctioned institutions and Kremlin narratives. Islamic Publishing Standards: Malaysia’s religious affairs minister urged authors and publishers of Islamic books to double-check accuracy and originality after criticism over alleged errors in Quranic quotations in a newly published influencer title. Community Book Culture: A rare-books shop in Pocatello highlighted a newly acquired, possibly Franklin-era notebook tied to late-1800s court proceedings, underscoring how local finds can reshape publishing history. Local History Tech: Boston launched Tour 250, an interactive map with 25 new historic markers and audio from local historians, aiming to broaden whose stories show up in “history books.” Food Tourism Record: Setiu, Malaysia set a Malaysia Book of Records mark with a 1-kilometre battered prawn dish, using 547 tables and about 100,000 prawns.

Publishing & Royalties: Veteran singer Jose Mari Chan clarified his viral claim about “no royalties,” saying it was only about declining payments tied to physical formats (CDs, cassettes, vinyl), while other royalty streams still pay. Book Culture & Community: Miles City Public Library’s first Adult Book Fair Extravaganza (July 17) mixes used-book shopping with collage-making, mocktails, and a Book and Bakery Walk. Digital Reading Pipeline: Wattpad’s ongoing push from fan fiction to mainstream screen hits is highlighted by its scale, paid tiers, and continued adaptations. Local Book Events: A library schedule roundup spotlights adult fairs, used book sales, and more community reading activities. Health & Food Access (adjacent community impact): A $75,000 grant expands “Groceries for Seniors” with shelf-stable and fresh food deliveries plus cooking demos and nutrition education. Travel/Leisure Reading Mood: “Railcation” travel analysis points families toward UK city breaks by train—an easy backdrop for summer reading lists.

Publishing Equity & Access: New data from The Bookseller shows Black authors’ earnings slipping in the first half of 2026, with 14 Black writers in the top 1,000 earning just 0.9% of the money. Education Funding: Anglia Ruskin University launched a 10-year scholarship for children’s book illustrators after a £515,000 donation in memory of Paula Heister. Rights & Talent Pipeline: The Broken Binding Publishing appointed Simon Spanton as commissioning editor as its fantasy slate expands. Community Book Culture: A new queer bookshop, The Littlest Gay Bookshop, debuts at Boone’s Pride and plans to sponsor local queer events. Climate & Books: A new Maryland-focused book, “The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue,” ties extreme weather and climate change to mass tree mortality. Library Programming: St. Tammany Parish Library is running adult writing workshops with Joy E. Rancatore, plus more summer reading events. Tech Meets Publishing: Kobo reportedly rejected 45% of self-published books last year, mostly over AI concerns. AI & Power: A new papal encyclical frames AI as an infrastructure of power, not a neutral tool.

Prime Day wrap-up: CNET’s shopping team says the best deals are still live for a few hours, with last-minute savings on Apple devices, TVs, tablets and smart home gear. NRL deadline drama: With June 30 looming, clubs are weighing late player moves; the Broncos’ links to Luciano Leilua remain a key storyline. Soccer quick hits: Tony Popovic makes bold Socceroos selection calls for the Paraguay 0-0, with youth getting starts amid school “headache” disruption. Brexit fallout: Sir John Major urges Britain to rejoin the EU single market within five years, calling Brexit damage “devastating.” Publishing & books: A BC government guide for newcomers expands into six languages, while a new book collection review spotlights Tony Tulathimuttee’s “Rejection” and its sharp satire of modern rejection. Tech/rights: A former Meta executive sues to block an arbitration gag tied to her memoir, “Careless People.” Trade & tariffs: India-US talks are “very close,” but a tariff “red line” could derail the IHG deal. Offshore minerals: BOEM seeks input on potential mineral leasing areas off Virginia’s coast.

Housing & Industry: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act cleared the Senate and House with rare bipartisan support, but President Trump postponed signing and tied it to passage of the SAVE America Act—leaving HVAC and retrofit work in limbo. Publishing & Tech Deals: Ingenta says it won £2m+ in new business since the financial year began, while Prime Day is driving big Kindle Paperwhite and accessories demand. Book Trade & Culture: The AA opened its Fanum House time capsule early, revealing a 1973 snapshot of the organization and Britain. Legal Fight in Media: Sarah Wynn-Williams plans to sue Meta after a gag order tied to her book. Travel & Routes: easyJet added new winter routes from Glasgow and Southend, expanding options for city breaks and Arctic getaways. Business Books & Marketing: SportsEdTV’s Robert Mazzucchelli released a three-book marketing trilogy, and Princeton author Nitin Kartik marked 70+ weeks as an Amazon bestseller with Product Marketing Wisdom. Sports Pop Culture: Tickets for a “Hogwarts” adult dining experience go on sale next week, blending studio tour access with the book-and-film universe.

Publishing for young readers: Cambridge researchers have released The Professor, the Pipette & the Path Not Taken, a branching adventure book with 277 pathways and 10 endings based on real biomedical careers. Books as community infrastructure: Delhi’s Daryaganj Sunday Book Market is described as an unofficial welfare system for students, filling gaps left by underfunded public education and rising private costs. Global publishing & culture: The China-ASEAN Youth Culture and Heritage Tour brought young influencers and cultural leaders to Guilin, linking heritage sites with modern industry and rural revitalization. AI governance in publishing-adjacent work: Google Cloud unveiled Open Knowledge Format (OKF), a vendor-neutral way to package curated knowledge for AI agents using markdown and YAML metadata. Book-to-screen momentum: A new movie adaptation of a bestselling Israeli book is headed to theaters, adding to the week’s steady stream of screen projects tied to popular titles. Local book events: The Bronx Book Festival drew hundreds for what’s billed as the biggest literary event in the borough.