Jon Bon Jovi/Amy Grant BEA Concert Canceled

On Monday, April 9, BookExpo America announced the cancellation of the Saturday, June 2, concert featuring Jon Bon Jovi and Amy Grant. The event was to be a benefit for the Book Industry Foundation, which is comprised of the Association of American Publishers' (AAP) Get Caught Reading Campaign and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE).

BEA show organizers said the concert was cancelled because Bon Jovi would not be able to perform and his forthcoming book, Believe, which was scheduled for publication in November 2007, was being postponed by publisher Flying Dolphin Press.

According to BEA, refunds will be automatically issued within 30 days to everyone who had already purchased a ticket, and it is not necessary to call for a refund. Ticket holders will be notified in the next two to three weeks via e-mail once their refund has been processed.

"I cannot begin to express my regret about this development, and I apologize profusely to all our many attendees who I know were looking forward to this event," said BEA Event Director Lance Fensterman. "At the same time, I also want to say that I do know that Flying Dolphin feels terribly about this, and I know they approached us with the firmest conviction and every belief that Mr. Bon Jovi would perform. Unfortunately, as we all know in this business, things change fast and books do, on rare occasions, get postponed."

BEA show organizers are encouraging all attendees to support Get Caught Reading and ABFFE, either individually or through their companies. "Proceeds from our autographing program go to benefit these worthy causes," said Fensterman. "I hope that people will take advantage of our autographing program, or seek out other ways to contribute to the great work that is being done by Get Caught Reading and ABFFE."