After seven seasons, NBC is canceling “The West Wing.” “There’s a point when you look at the ratings and say, it feels like it’s time.”
Tag: 01.22.06
Sony Gets Into The E-Book Game
E-books have been touted for years as the next big thing in literature and technology, but they’ve never caught on with the reading public in a big way. Later this year, though, Sony will attempt to succeed where others have failed with a new generation of electronic readers featuring a high-tech screen utilizing tiny “microcapsules… that look far more like ordinary paper than a liquid crystal display… The E Ink technology also conserves batteries because current is used only when pixels need to change their color — between virtual page turns, the Reader consumes no current at all.”
Police Recover $60 Million Stolen Salt Shaker
“Austrian police have recovered a $60m 16th Century figurine stolen in 2003 called Saliera, or salt cellar, after a suspect turned himself in. Experts established it was an authentic work by Florentine master Benvenuto Cellini… It was found on Saturday, buried in a wooden case near Zwettl, a town about 55 miles north of Vienna.”
Arts Leaders Warn Scotland
Arts leaders across the UK are lining up to slam the Scottish government for its decision to fund several of Scotland’s largest arts groups directly, rather than going through an independent arts council, as has been the norm. One observer called the move an “erosion of the ‘arm’s length’ principle,” and the head of the Arts Council of Wales described himself as “gravely concerned” by the development. There is no sign, however, that the Scottish Executive is reconsidering the plan.
Garden State Growing Grass Roots
Everyone knows how big symphony orchestras and prestigious theatres get funded. But how do smaller arts groups, whether professional or amateur, come up with the cash and venue space to do what they do? The answers can be as varied as the groups themselves, and many organizations are constantly scrambling to make use of available resources, and generate new ones. In New Jersey, a new plan from the state arts council aims to channel money and resources to local, grass-roots arts groups more efficiently, and to assist the recipients in how to best direct their efforts.
Successful Partnership in San Diego
When San Diego Opera decided to replace its in-house orchestra with the musicians of the San Diego Symphony last year, some in the city’s arts scene were dubious. But one year into the partnership, the symphony and opera both pronounce themselves well pleased with the results.
Turkish Government Declines Charges Against Author
The Turkish government won’t approve charges of “insulting Turkey and Turkishness” against Orhan Pamuk, the country’s most prominent author, leaving the decision to a local court that could drop the case.
Global Recorded Music Sales Down
Global music retail revenues fell about 2 percent last year. In 2004 they remained flat at $33.6 billion, punctuating a four-year slide. The drop in overall sales came “despite a threefold increase in digital music revenue to $1.1 billion from $380 million, while illegal file-sharing volumes changed little. The new downturn, based on data from three-quarters of the global market, underlined major challenges facing record companies…”