Summary: When Soren Kaplan’s “Leapfrogging” was published last summer it immediately appeared on the Wall Street Journal’s list of best-selling business books, a position that would be maintained for only a week. That was more than enough time for Kaplan to cement his status as a best-selling author which, in-turn, helps him land lucrative speaking and consulting gigs. That is precisely why Kaplan hired a marketing firm to purchase copies of the book upon publication to assure it would appear on bestseller lists. During an interview with the Journal, Kaplan reveals how authors buying their way onto the bestseller list is a dirty little secret the publishing industry would prefer you not know about. Dreamworks Animation is not being completely honest either. They took huge write-downs on their most recent release “Rise of the Guardians” and faulted the film’s weak performance as the reason for laying of 400 employees. However many question whether the company’s decision to move some of their production to China may have more to do with it. Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the best yearly music sales since 1999, the end of Daily Variety and whether NBC is looking to part ways with Jay Leno (again). Prince Michael Jackson Heading to 90210 http://www.vulture.com/2013/02/prince-michael-jackson-90210.html (http://www.vulture.com/2013/02/prince-michael-jackson-90210.html) Susan Boyle Gets a Movie Role http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/susan-boyle-gets-a-movie-role/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/susan-boyle-gets-a-movie-role/) 'The Hobbit' Tops $1-Billion Mark in Worldwide Box-office Sales http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-hobbit-billion-box-office-20130303,0,5171207.story (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-hobbit-billion-box-office-20130303,0,5171207.story) Box Office Milestone: 'Les Miserables' Crosses $400 Million Worldwide http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-les-miserables-425294 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-les-miserables-425294) Foreign Box Office: 'Die Hard' Hangs On to Top Spot While China Propels 'Hobbit' Past $1 Billion http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foreign-box-office-die-hard-425761 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foreign-box-office-die-hard-425761) Stephen Chow Building Theme Park http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stephen-chow-building-theme-park-423438 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stephen-chow-building-theme-park-423438) Disney’s $200 Million Gamble On Oz http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oz-great-powerful-disneys-200-424526 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oz-great-powerful-disneys-200-424526) Jeffrey Katzenberg on DreamWorks Animation Layoffs http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jeffrey-katzenberg-dreamworks-animations-very-424699 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jeffrey-katzenberg-dreamworks-animations-very-424699) DreamWorks Animation Takes $87 Million Write-off for “Rise Of The Guardians” http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-takes-87-million-424648 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-takes-87-million-424648) Len Riggio Intends to Purchase Barnes & Noble Retail Stores, Take Company Private http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/len-riggio-intends-to-purchase-barnes-noble-retail-stores-take-company-private/ (http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/len-riggio-intends-to-purchase-barnes-noble-retail-stores-take-company-private/) B&N Weighing Nook Losses http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/25/business/media/barnes-noble-weighs-its-nook-losses.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/25/business/media/barnes-noble-weighs-its-nook-losses.html) Scaling Back Nook Bad News For Publishers http://www.techhive.com/article/2029326/scaling-back-the-nook-e-reader-would-be-bad-news-for-book-publishers.html
