Showbiz Sandbox 656: Yes, People Still Buy Books Showbiz Sandbox

Two recent opinion pieces stirred up some heated debate in the book publishing business. One insists no one buys books anymore. The other says the proliferation of book roundup lists is a bunch of nonsense. One is very wrong, even when it’s right. The other is right, but for the wrong reasons. Michael is our book guy and in fact does book roundups every week! So let’s put him on the hot seat.

Meanwhile, Nielsen recently overcame some technological hurdles and got cooperation from several new sources of streaming data. The result? A number of shows popped onto the streaming charts for the first time or with renewed force. The big beneficiary is Hulu, with Peacock a distant second.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault conviction was overturned by a New York court, Taylor Swift’s latest album breaks all sorts of streaming records and an update on a potential acquisition of Paramount Global.





Skadoosh!: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Crosses $500M WW; ‘Challengers’ Widens Offshore Net; ‘The Fall Guy’ Starts Overseas Action

https://deadline.com/2024/04/kung-fu-panda-4-milestone-the-fall-guy-challengers-godzilla-x-kong-dune-roundup-punishment-global-international-box-office-1235897903/

Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Hits Target With $15M Opening for No. 1 Finish

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/zendaya-box-office-challengers-opening-1235885369/

Michael Giltz’s Books Coverage for Parade

https://parade.com/books/best-reads/author/michael-giltz

Parade’s Best New Releases April 30-May 6

https://parade.com/books/best-reads/best-new-book-releases-this-week-2024-april-30-may-6

Paramount Considers Removing CEO Bob Bakish as Turmoil Over Sale Talks Deepens

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/paramount-considers-removing-ceo-bob-bakish-as-turmoil-over-sale-talks-deepens-a48b0ec5

Writers Guild Of Canada “Overwhelmingly” Votes To Authorize Strike Action, CMPA Says “Labor Dispute Would Be Extremely Damaging” To Industry

https://deadline.com/2024/04/writers-guild-canada-vite-authorize-strike-action-cmpa-1235894681/

Taylor Swift Makes Historic Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-debut-number-one-billboard-200-chart/

For First Time in Decades, Vinyl Record Sales Surpass CDs and DVDs in Brazil

https://apnews.com/video/brazil-music-anitta-d3cde6d835814a969f82793890c6605a

The Elysian: No One Buys Books

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