What was the top-grossing musical act in concert in 2000? Britney? N’Sync? Nope – it was 61-year-old Tina Turner, who took in $80 million on tour. – The Globe & Mail (Canada) (AP)
Author: Douglas McLennan
MUSIC ON THE SIDE
It costs more to buy a movie soundtrack recording than to see the movie. But sometimes the music is better than the movie. “There may have been a dearth of Oscar contenders this year, but there was no shortage of noteworthy soundtracks. Some were loaded with new hits, others more like mix-tapes of beloved oldies.” – National Post (Canada)
THE PUBLISHING NAPSTER?
Fear of Napster-like device has publishers worried. ”The publishing industry stands to lose $1.5 billion through e-book piracy by 2005,” warn some in the industry. But how real is the threat? – Inside.com
WHY BOOKS ARE PUBLISHED
“Forty years ago an editor decided to publish a book because it, or the author, captured their fancy. Marketing, accounting, and publicity mattered, but not nearly as much as editorial preference. This led to the discovery of some great writers who wouldn’t have stood a chance in a more dollar-conscious environment, but it also led, as you might expect, to a reasonable share of self-important blather. Over the last decade the ethos of narcissism once so common has been displaced by an equally dubious operating principle: The corporate mindset.” – Feed
A DAY WITHOUT ART
Today is “No Art Day” in Singapore, an occasion for people to reflect on the role of art in Singapore Culture. But “the irony of No Art Day seems to be lost on some artistes, who do not see the point of making such a statement when most Singaporeans remain apathetic towards the arts.” – The Straits Times (Singapore) 12/29/00
WORKING FOR THE CAPITAL OF CULTURE
Okay, so maybe Liverpool isn’t the first place you think about when you think about culture. But the city has been named the European Capital of Culture for 2008 and the city is fixing up. “Museums and galleries are expanding, public buildings are being spruced up after years of neglect, a theatre has come back into the limelight after three dark years, and the city’s symphony orchestra is looking forward to a stable financial future under a new conductor.”- The Guardian 12/29/00
CHINESE REVIVAL
China spent a good part of the 20th Century destroying its past, particularly during the years of the Cultural Revolution. But history has become hot among today’s Chinese youth, and a revival of things of the past is underway. – International Herald Tribune 12/29/00
MUSEUM VANDALS
Two men vandalized the Jewish History Museum in Bucharest. “The men entered the museum, which is housed in a former synagogue, early on Thursday morning, asking ‘Where is the soap made of human fat? Is there any Auschwitz soap?’ They punched a 63-year-old guard in the face and choked him, smashing windows and scattering exhibits on the floor, before leaving.” – BBC
JOHN’S “WINTER” HOME
Explorers report they have found the “winter home” of John the Baptist” on the east shore of the Jordan River. They also found a skull too, which some say may have been John’s. “Until now, testing on the skull has not been completed, so we can only say it belonged to a hermit, because the region of Wadi Kharrar was inhabited by many hermits. The cave carved into the rock was dated to the 1st century AD.” – Bahrain Tribune
PARTHENON PROPAGANDA
Last month Athens opened a new subway stop at the Acropolis, decorated with replicas of the Parthenon marbles that Greece wants to retrieve from Britain. Next up are plans for a new Acropolis Museum, designed to up pressure on the English to return the sculptures. – The Art Newspaper