Sidney Harman, the co-founder of the Harman Kardon audio equipment brand in 1953, died on Tuesday at 92 due to complications from acute myeloid leukemia. He left the company in 2007, which is now called Harman International Industries and had since been teaching polymathic studies at the University of Southern California. Last year, he was in the headlines after buying Newsweek magazine for $1 while assuming its liabilities.
Harman then hired former Vanity Fair editor and Daily Beast co-founder Tina Brown. In November, Harman and IAC/Interactive Corp that owns Daily Beast combined the news and commentary website with the magazine in an even venture that made Harman executive chairman and of the resulting Newsweek Daily Beast Co.
Harman Kardon makes audio gear for the home, computers and automotive applications, partnering with many vehicle manufacturers on OEM systems. It owns sub-brands such as the primarily iPod-focused accessory maker JBL.
