Summer Music Festivals On The Wane

“For a while, there has been an increasing feeling that festivals have shifted too far from their original hippie-spirited ethos. The point was to offer an alternative reality. Now, it’s a slick industry. The television rights have been sold, and with that have come price rises, mass audiences and corporate domination – the antithesis of everything they stood for.”

Time For Yet Another Obit For Rock Music?

“Rock music’s death certificate is signed with startling frequency. A year ago, after three rock songs featured in the 100 bestselling singles of 2009, the DJ Paul Gambaccini announced: “Rock as a prevailing style is part of music history.” This month, after rock’s share of album sales fell to 29.4% – its lowest proportion since 2003 – the obituarists came out once more.”

The Art Of “Occupy”

There’s been a “flood of Occupy-related art that is pouring in, now that artists have had a chance to consider it and make the stuff. Your appreciation, or lack of it, will no doubt be clouded by your enthusiasm, or level of patience, for the protestors who camped out in town squares across the country starting last fall.”

Smithsonian Attendance Down Two Percent (But 29 Million Still Went)

“While slightly fewer people went to the museums, they seemed to be spending, according to the Smithsonian. Its business division, Smithsonian Enterprises had its 5th year of net growth, said Clough, and returned $29 million to the Smithsonian private accounts. The most successful units of the division are retail, then media and consumer products.”