“Much of the music of America’s past, its dances and marches and dirges, was played simultaneously. But Brant’s ingenious use of the location and carefully engineered counterpoint allowed the ear to accommodate the various musical strands. Music not meant to get along did.”
Tag: 05.01.08
Study: Broadway Contributes Billions To NY Economy
Last season, Broadway theatre contributed $5.1 billion to the New York economy. The “figure is up slightly from the org’s 2006 study, which pegged the cumulative fiscal effects of the 2004-05 season at $5.09 billion.”
Major Online Music Services Could Pay $100 Million In Back-Royalties
TimeWarner, RealNetworks and Yahoo could owe the money to thousands of songwriters and publishers after a judge’s royalty formula.
Report: Studios, Actors Far Apart On New Contract
“In particular, the studios challenged a proposed restructuring of the formula for residual fees received by actors from DVD sales, which it said would double the current $500 million total that actors would receive over three years if the current formula was unchanged.”
Thieves Stealing Public Art For Scrap
“Manhole covers, pipes and wiring have already been targeted for theft in many cities, thanks to copper prices that have risen to about $4 a pound from $3.50 a year ago and $1.50 three years ago. In the prosperous Orange County city of Brea, home to a thriving public art program, big bronze sculptures are now on the hit list. The city has lost three such works in the past 18 months.”
Some Afghan TV Stations Defy Ban On Popular Indian Soaps
“Authorities say the popular Indian programmes conflict with Afghanistan’s Islamic values. However, Tolo TV and Afghan TV say the ban is illegal. The Indian serials often show men and women together and feature what some Afghans consider to be immodestly-dressed women.”
Whitney Unveils Plans For Downtown Satellite
“For more than 20 years the Whitney has been unveiling sunny expansion plans for its Marcel Breuer home on Madison Avenue, only to have them crash against the reality of neighborhood politics. With its decision to build a second museum in the meatpacking district, the Whitney seems to have found its bearings.”
Taking On The Controversial “Authentication” Committees
“Several lawsuits, brought by collectors or dealers against artists’ estates or so-called ‘authentication committees’, are pending in New York City courts. The most recent suits, against the Jean-Michel Basquiat authentication committee and the Alighiero Boetti Archive — an organization run by relatives of the late Arte Povera artist — raise difficult questions about the powers and responsibilities of such committees.”
Ratings Plunge For Post-Strike American TV
“Were not fans of television’s favorite shows so feverish with pent-up desire to see new episodes that they planted themselves in front of their plasma screens at the appointed hours? Apparently not. Did the strike by Hollywood writers, which shut down production for 14 weeks, drive viewers away to other entertainment options? Maybe.”
Share A Book, Save A Tree
“One Canadian spruce produces just 24 books, which means that if you get through one book every two weeks your reading habits destroy almost one large tree every year.” Something better?