Hal Leonard Expands
Hal Leonard Corp. has acquired Backbeat Books from CMP Media. The purchase adds about 200 titles to Leonard's book offerings, which include the Applause Theater & Cinema Books, Amadeus Press and Limelight Editions imprints. Hal Leonard, which already distributes Backbeat's line to the music trade, will assume marketing, sales and distribution functions to all outlets.
Sarnoff to Focus on BDMI
Richard Sarnoff is leaving his day-to-day responsibilities at Random House to concentrate on directing Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments. Andrew Weber, senior v-p of operations and technology, will take over Sarnoff's duties heading the New Media department, while Edward Volini, deputy chairman, CFO and chief administrative officer, will assume oversight of corporate development. And Random House Direct Marketing will be become part of Crown Publishing Group.
Dystel Fellows Announced
Kathryn Walton and Adam Latham are the recipients of the 2006—2007 Oscar Dystel Fellowship. Given to "outstanding" graduate students in the NYU Master of Science in Publishing, the award is named after the former CEO and chairman of Bantam Books.
New Distributor Formed
Three former Watson-Guptill employees will take over the distribution facility being vacated by the publisher at the end of January to form their own distribution company. General manager Robert Hughes, customer service manager Joanne Nolan and IT director John Pascarelli will operate the Lakewood, N.J., warehouse under the name Innovative Logistics. The new company will offer full distribution services and has signed Prestel Publishing as its first client.
Effective January 1, Watson-Guptill is moving its distribution, and that of 13 of its clients, to Holtzbrinck Publishers.
Jack Leaving 'Granta' Next Year
Ian Jack will step down from his post as editor of Granta in June after directing the magazine for 12 years. Speaking to his departure, he said: "After editing nearly 50 issues of the magazine, which is about the same number as my predecessor, Bill Buford, there comes a time when you recognize you can do a thing too long." Granta has begun a search for his successor.
Obituary: Alice Kesterson
Longtime Random House field sales rep Alice Kesterson died November 16 at age 50. Kesterson left Random in 2004 after 22 years at the publisher. She started out at Ballantine Books, covering the Chicago area, and held a variety of sales positions over the years. She lived in Maryland.
Correction
In last week's pictorial on the National Book Awards, we had the name of the fiction winner wrong; he is Richard Powers.
