Prince “recently outraged the music establishment by giving away CDs of his Planet Earth album to British fans who purchased last week’s Mail on Sunday newspaper. In light of the giveaway, Sony/BMG refused to distribute the album in Great Britain, provoking outbursts from music retailers who had been cut out of the action. Part of the problem, according to retailers, is that Prince’s move helped solidify a growing perception on the part of consumers that music is free.”
Tag: 07.09.07
Can Crowds Create Fiction, Architecture, Movies?
“Can large groups of widely scattered people, working together voluntarily on the net, report on something happening in their world right now, and by dividing the work wisely tell the story more completely, while hitting high standards in truth, accuracy and free expression?”
Old Master Sales Up 47 Percent (But A Downside)
“London’s auctions of old-master pictures, from Raphael to Turner, rose 47 percent at Sotheby’s and Christie’s last week, helped by an influx of new buyers. Many high-priced works failed to sell. The results showed that while the auction houses have been successful in drawing new buyers from the U.S. to Russia, they overestimated the appeal of many earlier works.”
Netherlands Puts National Art For Sale On eBay
Thousands of artworks from the Dutch national collection are being sold on eBay. “These are works that have not been on display in 100 years or works that do not fit in with the kind of exhibitions in museums. Most of the works were made through a government program in the 1980s, which paid artists for a certain number of works to be produced.”
Harry Fans Sign Petition To Rowling
Harry Potter fans are signing petitions asking JK Rowling to continue writing stories about the boy wizard. Rowling is on record saying: “I think that Harry’s story comes to quite a clear end in Book 7,” she said.” But I have always said that I wouldn’t say never. I can’t say I will never write another book about that world, just because I think: ‘What do I know, in 10 years’ time I might want to return to it’. But I think it is unlikely.”
Greece Steps Up Measures Against Antiquities Smuggling
“Some of the measures include the creation of a special department within the ministry to be responsible for tracing stolen items and repatriating them, and allowing phone taps on suspects and prison terms for those who make fake antiquities.”
British CD Sales Down 10 Percent
“Figures compiled by the British Phonographic Industry show that 6.5m fewer albums have been sold this year compared with the same period in 2006. Consumers failed to make up the shortfall online, with digital album sales increasing by just 2 million.”
John Szarkowski, Photography Curator, 81
“In the early 1960’s, when Mr. Szarkowski began his curatorial career, photography was commonly perceived as a utilitarian medium, a means to document the world. Perhaps more than anyone, Mr. Szarkowski changed that perception.”