“The museum, located at the foot of the ancient Acropolis, a hill that is home to ancient temples including the Parthenon, has been plagued by construction delays and legal wrangling. The 100-million euro project was originally scheduled for opening in 2004, ahead of the Athens Olympics.”
Tag: 02.15.09
The Scourge Of Muzak File Chapter 11 – So Much For All That
“Muzak was always about more than just music and its core. In the 1940s, Muzak came up with Stimulus Progression, the belief that piped music in the workplace, properly played, could stimulate production. Obviously, true music lovers should look away now, but this quasi-scientific (some might argue pseudo-scientific) theory claimed that an individual’s mood could be lifted through listening to programmed sound in 15-minute segments.”
Europe Close To Extending Musicians’ Copyright
“The European Parliament’s legal affairs committee has voted in favour of a copyright term extension for musicians on sound recordings. It has backed the European Commission’s proposal to increase the term of protection from 50 to 95 years.”
The YouTube Orchestra Starts To Take Shape
“Online voting begins to select the members of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, which will perform at Carnegie Hall on April 15 under Michael Tilson Thomas — an ensemble selected entirely from video auditions posted on YouTube, culled by judges in leading symphony orchestras around the world and chosen in part by votes from YouTube viewers. This means you. Since the project was announced on Dec. 1, the YouTube Symphony site has gotten more than 10 million hits, and more than 3,000 video submissions from 70-odd countries.”
Satellite Radio’s Sirius Working To Stave Off Bankruptcy
Sirius XM Radio said its XM Satellite has refinanced some of its outstanding debt, but acknowledged the pay-radio provider may file for bankruptcy protection as soon as Tuesday.
Ballet New England Regroups
The company “has a great new home, is regrouping and trying new tactics to stabilize itself, including restructuring and adding to its board, she says. School improvements are on the way, and it has increased programming; adding adult morning programs and Mommy and Me classes.”
Artists – A Need To Reinvent In Tough Times
“Today’s contemporary artists might extract lessons from previous downturns in this nation’s relatively short history, when some artists found ways to support their endeavors and even thrive. For better or worse, their strategies were often rooted in an understanding of the populist spirit that can rise to the fore when America hits hard times.”
Is Movie-Theatre Opera A Risk?
“Thanks largely to the efforts of the Metropolitan Opera, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are seeing live opera performances in movie theaters, and many others in repeat showings. Yet despite the general acclaim for the Met’s innovation, introduced and championed by its general manager, Peter Gelb, a few voices have raised concerns about long-term effects on the art form.”
The Art Boom Is Over (Hooray!)
“The contemporary art market, with its abiding reputation for foggy deals and puffy values, is a vulnerable organism, traditionally hit early and hard by economic malaise. That’s what’s happening now. Sales are vaporizing. Careers are leaking air. Chelsea rents are due. The boom that was is no more.”
The Poor UK Writer’s Life
“The average wage for a freelance writer in Britain is less than the pay of a supermarket worker. The reality in 2009 is a good deal bleaker. Average earnings for writers have dropped from £7,000 to £4,000, less than 25% of the national average.”