Clear Channel Communications president and CEO Mark Mays Congress should allow broadcasters to own 50% more stations in the nation’s major markets than current ownership limits allow. “Mays claims that satellite radio and Internet services escape regulations on content and capacity that give them an unfair advantage that only can be overcome by allowing broadcasters to get bigger.”
Tag: 10.04.05
Collector Sues To Stop Sale Of Stolen Paintings
In 1978 thieves stole seven paintings from Michael Bakwin. “The paintings, worth about $3 million, surfaced last spring in London, in the possession of the Erie International Trading Co., an obscure organization with a Panamanian address. When Bakwin learned that the company had plans to auction the works, he asked the Art Loss Register, a firm that tracks stolen art, to intervene. Julian Radcliffe, chairman of the Art Loss Register, said he wants to know who the owners of Erie International Trading are, how they got the paintings, and what they may know about the theft.”
Saltz: Is New York Art City?
Jerry Saltz writes that New York’s “art world has never been so flush with money. There are almost 300 galleries in Chelsea, with more than 30 expanding or relocating there this season. A 20-story “gallery condo” is under construction; Matthew Marks is opening a fourth gallery space, Perry Rubinstein a third, Pace a second; Marianne Boesky is building her own building. No one’s closing. There are also hundreds of contemporary galleries outside Chelsea. So New York truly is Art City. Or is it? Even with all the buzz, we’re in a predicament.”
August Wilson’s Song
“To say that Wilson was the greatest African American playwright the nation has produced — as some inevitably do — is to limit the scope of his significance as a contributor to the country’s dramatic heritage.”
CBC Work Stoppage Ends
“The CBC and its union reached an agreement in principle early yesterday morning, seven weeks after the lockout began. Negotiators from both sides are still meeting, working on the details and language of the deal. The final deal is unlikely to be ratified until the weekend, but CBC viewers could get their first taste of normal programming then.”
CBC Lockout – Who Lost Most?
“Neither CBC management nor the Canadian Media Guild distinguished between radio, television or the Internet when presenting their sides to the public. But many of the issues raised (such as whether the CBC can remain competitive) were directed more toward television. Has CBC Radio been unfairly burdened by TV during the lockout and the damage the lockout may have done to audience loyalty?”
NY TV Fest – It Worked!
“Of the 25 television pilots shown at the festival, about 10 garnered interest from development executives and talent agents, who contacted the writers and producers of the shows. None of the talks has culminated yet in any deals, but the debut year of the festival, which concluded Sunday night, accomplished its goal of introducing a new generation of artists to the industry.”
August Wilson – Some Historical Perspective
“Wilson stands alongside the foremost 20th century American dramatists, Eugene O’Neill, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. Though some may argue that Wilson never wrote a play as great as “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Death of a Salesman” or “A Streetcar Named Desire,” his finest works, “Fences,” “The Piano Lesson” and “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” have become pillars of modern American drama.”
Conventional Wisdom – Cultural Diversity
Canada is pushing for a vote at UNESCO on a convention on cultural diversity. “It is intended to allow sovereign countries to protect, promote or subsidize their cultural productions despite rulings by international trade tribunals. The convention, which has been endorsed by 53 of 58 members of the United Nations cultural organization’s executive, has been strongly opposed by the United States. The U.S., which has consistently fought guarantees for films that might put restrictions on Hollywood, as well as subsidies for film production and magazines, has argued that UNESCO does not have the authority to enact the convention, and that it would interfere with the free flow of ideas.”
Art Fairs Trip Over One Another
There are four major international art fairs this month. “Not only is the schedule punishing for exhibitors and collectors, but the competition between the fairs for galleries and audience ratings is intense. It is not just a question of filling the stands and making sales – there is an abundance of galleries eager to take part in any of these fairs. The key issue, say the fair directors, is the quality of art shown, by which they mean prestige: getting the most prestigious international galleries with the most sought-after artists and that A1 list of collectors and museum curators to attend.”