Being a book agent in the US pretty well means you have to live on the east or west coasts. Of the 250 or so most influential agents, that’s where 99 percent of them live. But one small agency in a Chicago suburb is finding its way by doing business a bit differently. – Chicago Tribune
Author: Douglas McLennan
THEM THAT PRONOUNCES ON ART…
Poor Rudy. The New York mayor’s wife is starring in a racy play that flies contrary to hizzoner’s conservative tastes. “Now he’s trapped in a perfumed nightmare, his own wife soon performing orgasmic moans off-Broadway and his rival for the U.S. Senate making tsk-tsk noises at him every time he turns around.” – New York Observer
BUILDING LOBBIES
Architects on big public projects often have to deal with the petty political concerns of their politician/clients. They usually keep their disputes quiet. But the architects working on Melbourne’s landmark Federation Square have gone public with their complaints, mounting a campaign throughout Australia to lobby on their behalf. – Sydney Morning Herald
A MILLION POUNDS OF ART
Charles Saatchi just paid a million pounds for Damien Hirst’s latest: a 20-foot-high plastic model of the human body. Hirst makes a lot of junk, says one critic. But when he’s on… ” ‘Hymn’ is the first key work of British art for the new century. To risk an overused term, it is a masterpiece.” – The Telegraph (UK)
UNDUE INFLUENCE?
Sotheby’s postpones it annual meeting as its largest shareholder pushes the auction house to distance itself from its former chairman amidst growing investigations into the company’s practices. – New York Times
ART WRITE-OFF
Casino/hotel tycoon Steve Wynn helped get a tax break passed in Nevada last year that looks like it will allow him to get a tax break for the $5.5 million he charges the Bellagio Hotel to “rent” part of his art collection. – Las Vegas Review-Journal
BOX-TOP MUSIC
A new set-top box promises to deliver music on demand right in the home anytime you want it. – Wired 04/26/00
UNLIMITED MOVIES
So the Napster is killing sales of recorded music. Can the “Flickster” be far behind? Who wants to buy a movie you’re only going to see once, or hassle with all those late video rental charges. As soon as someone solves the compression problem (like maybe next month) Hollywood’s going to find itself in the same position as the music industry. Copyright laws or no copyright laws. – Toronto Star 04/26/00
ELECTRIC RODENT
A rat knocked Sri Lanka’s state-run television network off the air Monday after causing a short circuit. Network operations were moved to a mobile truck to get the station back on the air. A government inquiry has been ordered. – The Age (AP) 04/26/00
BIGGER IS BETTER?
Ownership of London’s West End theaters have been changing hands at a frantic rate this year. Another case of Big Bad Business Consolidation – with all the predictable corporate blandishments to follow? Surprisingly not, reports one critic. The changes seem to be for the better. – The Times (UK)
Who’s Who in London’s theater ownership sweepstakes. – The Times (UK)