Jonathan Karp: Last News

Chris Willman Music WriterAnyone wanting Bob Dylan to release “Chronicles Volume Two” or any official sequel to his previous memoir, “Chronicles Volume One,” which came out in 2004, is going to have to wait longer. But other than that, the news on the Dylan publishing front is astonishingly good.

Paramount has completed the $1.62 billion sale of book publisher Simon & Schuster to investment firm KKR, nearly a year after a richer sale to Penguin Random House ran aground over regulatory issues.

Jeff Bridges and Helen Mirren have been listed as just two of the names who will be reading chapters on the audiobook edition of Bob Dylan‘s forthcoming essay collection.The book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, contains over 60 essays written by Dylan about songs by artists such as Stephen Foster, Elvis Costello, Hank Williams and Nina Simone. It is set for release on November 1.Sissy Spacek, Oscar Isaac and Steve Buscemi will also be reading essays written by Dylan.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorGerman media giant Bertelsmann has set a deal with ViacomCBS to acquire publishing unit Simon & Schuster for $2.17 billion in cash.Bertelsmann, owner of publishing giant Penguin Random House, was seen as a logical contender for Simon & Schuster. ViacomCBS announced its intent to sell the publishing arm earlier this year as part of the company’s post-merger streamlining to focus on content investment.Simon & Schuster will operate as a separate unit under the Penguin Random House umbrella.

Mackenzie Nichols Staff WriterFormer New York Times journalist Dana Canedy has been named senior VP and publisher of the storied book imprint Simon & Schuster.Canedy will start at Simon & Shuster on July 27. She had been in talks with then-senior VP Jonathan Karp to join the publishing company two years ago, but at the time didn’t feel that it was the right fit.

Greg Evans Associate Editor/Broadway CriticDana Canedy, the administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes and a winner of the prestigious award during her long tenure at The New York Times, has been named publisher of the Simon & Schuster imprint.As a successor to Jonathan Karp, who took over as Simon & Schuster president and CEO following the heart attack death in May of Carolyn Reidy, Canedy becomes the first Black publisher in the company’s history.“I am confident that as our new publisher, Dana can deepen our strengths while expanding our field of vision,” Karp said in a statement, “combining broad editorial expertise with hands-on management skill and the proven ability to effect strategic change.” Following a 20-year career at the Times,

ViacomCBS has promoted Jonathan Karp to president and CEO of Simon & Schuster after putting the book publisher up for sale. Karp succeeds Carolyn Reidy, the former president and CEO who passed away earlier this month at age 71 due to a heart attack.

By Jill Goldsmith

By Cynthia Littleton