“A MILKY TEA, HEAVILY SUGARED”

That’s one description of today’s British classical music journalism. Shake-ups in the editorial leadership of the small world of British music magazines and the Grove Dictionary has put classical music journalism in an uproar, writes Norman Lebrecht. “The common weakness is that all these magazines rely primarily on record-label advertising, and most classical labels are in trouble.” – London Telegraph

WHERE FOLLOWERS FEAR TO TREAD

A Chicago arts station changes with the times, to the dismay of one critic. “Secure in its knowledge of the arts and their value, the old WFMT led, whereas the new follows. Management tells us that listeners sustain the enterprise because they get what they want, but in truth this will not benefit either side for long. Giving listeners what they want does not give them what they need to keep a relationship with the arts growing.” – Chicago Tribune 02/23/00

MUPPET SALE TO GERMAN MEDIA —

— giant illustrates difficulties faced by the few remaining independent production companies. – San Francisco Chronicle 02/23/00

  • ICH BIN EIN GREEN BERLINER: Kermit and the Henson gang are bought by giant German media company for $630 million. – CBC 02/22/00

  • “Access to the world’s biggest media market” – San Francisco Examiner (AP) 02/22/00

  • German entertainment companies ready for Prime Time. Variety 02/22/00

YOU DESERVE A BREAK TODAY

Billboards advertising McDonald’s have gone up around Berlin showing a picture of a hamburger next to words like ‘Plima!’ or ‘Liesig!’ Written in a caricaturist ‘bamboo script,’ the misspelled words play on a popular misconception that Asians, and particularly the Chinese, cannot pronounce the letter R. “These ads are jolly and funny,” says a McDonald’s spokesman. “We haven’t heard any complaints.” He sure has now. – Die Welt (Germany)