Meg Kuehn Returns as Partner and New Acquisition

New York, (January 7, 2026) – Kirkus Reviews, the nation’s leading prepublication journal of book reviews, is delighted to announce the return of former CEO and publisher Meg LaBorde Kuehn in an expanded ownership position. In this new role, Kuehn will resume her leadership of the company as publisher and CEO with a particular focus on strategic long-term growth through acquisitions and technology initiatives. Herb Simon, chairman of Kirkus, says, “We are committed to growing Kirkus and enriching the book industry. Meg Kuehn is our trusted leader and agent of growth, and I’m thrilled to have her back as a partner.”

The first initiative Kuehn announced is the acquisition of AudioFile magazine. “In these times of American media companies scaling back coverage of books and literary culture, Kirkus is investing in the future. Audiobook coverage is the perfect next step in our expansion, and there is no company in the world more tuned in to the audience and its needs than AudioFile,” said Kuehn. According to the Association of American Publishers, audiobooks are the fastest-growing format in the book industry, growing more than 22 percent year-over-year in 2024 compared to eBook growth of less than 2 percent and print growth of less than 4 percent. Adoption of the format is equally impressive: a 2025 study by Edison Research and the Audio Publishers Association revealed that more than half of the adult population in America had listened to an audiobook.

AudioFile was started in 1992 by visionary Robin Whitten to review and recommend audiobooks to libraries and listeners. Along with the acquisition of an impressive archive of more than 60,000 reviews, Kirkus is excited to work with AudioFile’s freelance reviewers, who generate more than 2,500 reviews per year. The new audiobook section of Kirkus Reviews, which will debut in its January 1, 2026 issue, will be edited by AudioFile’s managing editor, Jennifer Dowell. AudioFile publisher Michele Cobb will continue with Kirkus as its enterprise advertising director.

“With Kirkus's acquisition of AudioFile’s review program, the future is bright for audiobook reviews. It's been my honor to bring a spotlight to audiobooks and narrators for 34 years, and to know that will continue with Kirkus,” said Robin Whitten.

Contact Meg Kuehn at mkuehn@kirkus.com

Contact Robin Whitten at robin@audiofilemagazine.com

For more information, contact Kimberly Burns, kb@broadsidepr.com / 917.405.8708

 

About Kirkus Reviews

For more than 92 years, Kirkus has been the most trusted voice in book discovery. Kirkus Reviews covers more than 7,000 books published by traditional houses, more than 3,000 self-published books, and starting in 2026, more than 2,500 audiobooks every year. The magazine is published on the 1st and 15th of every month, and because of the scope of its coverage, its authoritative voice, and the timeliness of its reviews, Kirkus Reviews is revered by many as the first indicator of a book’s potential. For more information, please visit: Kirkus Reviews.