“The music industry announced a ‘one-stop’ international license for online radio broadcasters Tuesday, hoping the removal of red tape will encourage the rise of legitimate Web music services. Previously, online radio broadcasters, or webcasters, had to secure approval from an alphabet soup of national collection agencies… Webcasters have argued that until the number of licensing fees is reduced, the nascent broadcasting sector will never gain the critical commercial mass of its over-the-air cousins.”
Tag: 11.11.03
One Strad Sells, One Doesn’t
The Stradivarius violin which was up for auction at Sotheby’s in London this week has sold for nearly $1.3 million, but the Stradivarius cello which was also on the block failed to draw a high enough bid, and went unsold. Another Strad violin had failed to sell at another London auction earlier in the week. No word on who, exactly, purchased the fiddle that did sell.
The Big Get Bigger
Universal Music has announced plans to acquire Dreamworks Records, in yet another music industry consolidation seen to represent the desperation of many companies in the struggling recording business. “The music business is currently going through major changes as it struggles to counter falling sales and the impact of unofficial online music sales. Last week, Sony Music – the second-largest music company – said it was planning to merge with Bertelsmann. EMI and Warner Music have also been in talks about a possible merger.”
MTV’s Stolen Data
MTV’s Music Awards – televised from the UK – were a big success last week. But some of the shine was taken off the occasion after an MTV computer containing important data for the production was stolen. “Dozens of local firms who acted as suppliers for MTV face delays in being paid because e-mail records of what they are due have gone.”
Moonves: CBS Didn’t Cave On Reagan Pic
CBS chairman Les Moonves denies that his network caved in to political pressure when it canceled a Reagan bio-pic. “It was a moral decision, not an economic or political one. The series did not present a balanced view of former President Reagan and his wife Nancy, Mr Moonves stated.”
Tate’s Muslim Gaffe
The Tate has offended many Muslims with a Pre-Raphaelite painting in a current show. “First, the picture’s caption described it as depicting one of the wives of the prophet Mohammed. It was a concept that many Muslim visitors condemned as an act of blasphemy – since the Muslim faith prohibits human representations of the prophet, his wives or relatives.”
Understanding Orwell
In the 100th anniversary of George Orwell’s birth, there is still much disagreement over the man and his work. “Few would assert that Orwell the man is personally guilty of all the obtuseness that he is invoked to vindicate. Equally untenable is the position that Orwell was not responsible for his life and work. He did things, he wrote things, that can’t be explained away as objects of misinterpretation.”
Madonna, The Literary Experience
“For once even Madonna seems uncertain how her new vocation as scribe and teacher fits into or builds on her pop identity. The awkwardness is palpable in Madonna’s second children’s book, Mr. Peabody’s Apples, a cautionary tale about ‘the power of words’ based on a kabbalah fable. Madonna has always demonstrated great faith in the power of word of mouth, but she’s never been what you might call articulate—methinks ‘Express Yourself’ was not about writing sonnets. But Apples tests the power of words carefully chosen: not in the text, which is dull, uninspiring, and poorly punctuated, but in the marketing that surrounds it.”
Major Archaeological Find In Vietnam
Archaeologists say they have discovered a 1,300-year-old citadel in Vietnam. “This is the biggest and most important archaeological find in Vietnam’s archaeological history.”
Iraqi Artifacts Returned
Hundreds of artifacts have been returned to the Baghdad Museum. Two important pieces were found in a field and returned. “It is another bright day in the life of the Iraqi museum. We have two masterpieces not only of the Iraqi museum, but also masterpieces of the mankind. So, it is a great day today”