Friday June 29 JACKO AND THE LADYBUG: A Styrofoam cup with dead ladybug, $29,900. Jars of internal cow organs, $250,000. A life-size sculpture of Michael Jackson with his pet chimpanzee, $5,600.000. “Who, in a troubled economy, is buying this stuff? Do they really believe they’ll enjoy looking at it for the rest of their lives? And … Continue reading “Visual: June 2001”
Friday June 29 WIN WITHOUT WINNING: So the US court says publishers owe freelance writers extra money for electronic publishing rights. Publishers just include electronic rights with paper rights in a take it or leave it deal. So freelancers are unlikely to come out ahead. Wired 06/28/01 TOO POPULAR? “Could it be that accessibility is a dirty word … Continue reading “Publishing: June 2001”
Friday June 29 TOWER OF DOUR: Tower Records, which has been, in many parts of the US, the most comprehensive place to buy recorded music, looks to be on the verge of bankruptcy. The company has closed down its book business, closed 10 of its music stores and laid off 250 employees. Los Angeles Times 06/23/01 HARD … Continue reading “Music: June 2001”
Friday June 29 ANTICIPATING AI: The most carefully watched-for movie of the season, after Pearl Harbor, is probably A.I., which has just opened. It began as a Stanley Kubrick project and was finished after his death by Steven Spielberg. Early reviews are mixed on the effectiveness of the collaboration: it’s “fascinating but cold,” “a movie at war with itself,” “uneven and ultimately … Continue reading “Media: June 2001”
Thursday May 31 THEY JUST DON’T BURY THEM LIKE THEY USED TO: It used to be that Hollywood funerals were as splashy and well-attended as major movie premieres. Not so lately. “There seems to be a feeling among families of celebrities who have died that they don’t want to see pictures of the funeral on … Continue reading “Issues: May 2001”
Wednesday May 31 “JUST CALL IT McMOMA”: Getting your museum noticed these days requires “surreal amounts of money” these days, not to mention the promotional instincts of PT Barnum. The Museum of Modern Art’s Glenn Lowry has been “resculpting” MoMA so that the museum gets its fair share (of money and attention). He has hired a … Continue reading “Visual: May 2001”
Thursday May 31 COMING TO TERMS: ” ‘Classical music’ is a term, its composers and promoters and performers are beginning to fear, that may drive away as many potential listeners as it draws. The term presumes two unfortunately popular misconceptions: that music called ‘classical’ must depend entirely on its connection to the great (and thus, to … Continue reading “Music: May 2001”
Thursday May 31 ACTORS UNION SAGGING: While negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood producers seem well on the way to settlement on a new contract, peace within SAG ranks is remote. The union is torn between rival factions. Inside.com 05/31/01 SCREEN GAME: Movies released in America over the Memorial Day weekend took in more than $186 … Continue reading “Media: May 2001”
Monday April 30 CUTTING BOOK REVIEWS: Some of the most prominent American newspapers are reducing or cutting their book sections. Why? The newspaper business is currently in a down cycle and newspapers are looking for ways to slim down. “Publishers generally cite finances — costs have gone up and readership down. Plus, book sections rarely bring … Continue reading “Publishing: April 2001”
Monday April 30 A COPYRIGHT STATE OF MIND: When the New York Times Magazine put together a time capsule to show people in the year 3000 what life in 2000 was like, they natually wanted to include music. But there isn’t any music in the capsule. Why? The recording industry wouldn’t give copyright permission. Wired 04/30/01 UNEASY RELATIONSHIPS: “Even orchestras … Continue reading “Music: April 2001”
