More and more authors are producing audio versions of their own books. Some are calling on celebrity friends to help out, producing versions with large casts…
Tag: 07.05.06
Copyright Killing Artistic Freedom?
Canadian artists are protesting plans to revise their country’s copyright laws. “Canadian artists find existing laws restrictive, and most assume that new legislation will only increase constraints — especially if, as expected, it leads to Canada’s ratification of 1996 World Intellectual Property Organization treaties protecting works in the digital environment. Canada took part in those WIPO talks, but unlike the U.S., never ratified. This annoys the entertainment industry, whose executives describe Canada as ‘a piracy haven’.”
Canadian Portrait Gallery Stalled
While Americans celebrated the reopening of Washington’s National Portrait Gallery, plans for a Canadian portrait gallery have been languishing. “If the U.S. National Portrait Gallery’s reopening in Washington is ‘symbolic of the American spirit,’ what does it say about the Canadian spirit that Canada Day, 2006, has passed with completion funding for the Portrait Gallery of Canada still in limbo?”
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, 52
Hunt Lieberson occupied a special place on the music scene due to the protean nature of her musical interests — baroque to contemporary — extraordinary gifts and the committed, spiritual aura both her presence and plangent voice conveyed.
Ottawa Orchestra Extends Zukerman Contract
Ottawa’s National Arts Center Orchestra has renewed music director Pinchas Zukerman’s contract through 2011. “The renewal comes despite Zukerman’s abrupt five-month sabbatical from the NACO and reports of conflict between the conductor and his musicians.” While on “sabbatical” Zukerman also made disparaging remarks about his orchestra.
Universal Revamps CD Cases To Compete With Downloads
To try to compete with music downloads, Universal, the world’s largest CD producer, is revamping its CD cases, replacing some jewel boxes with cardboard sleeves. “Universal Music Group is introducing three tiers of packaging in Europe, also including deluxe and sturdier versions of the standard case. It expects the basic CDs to sell for about £7, the standard for about £10, and the deluxe – offering bonus CDs or DVDs – for around £14.”
Want Me To Shop? Give Me A Show!
“A simple plate-glass window festooned with goods is no longer enough to stimulate the desensitized public. To compete with soulless megamalls and the Internet, shops are returning to their loyal old helpmeets: architects. The ancient Romans concentrated their stores in dense arcades, an idea that the 19th century picked up with enclosed gallerias, which in turn begat the modern indoor mall 50 years ago.”
Signs Of Change For BBC Orchestras
The biggest sign, writes Norman Lebrecht, is that “the BBC announced Jiri Belohlavek last year as chief conductor of its flagship ensemble, times of music downloads, media convergence and multi-skilling. Broadcast orchestras are breaking out of stereotype, as the BBC Philharmonic demonstrated from Manchester with its million-download Beethoven cycle. The whispering Czech was hired for London to raise standards and restore self-belief.”