Eight years ago, Kansas City’s powerful all-classical FM station was unceremoniously dispatched the AM band and the plug was pulled on local programming. Now, the station is moving in the other direction, dumping its satellite-fed schedule for a completely local sound, and a push for greater listenership and more diverse programming.
Author: sbergman
Dudamania Sweeping LA
The LA Philharmonic has been sparing no expense in playing up its appointment of Venezuelan sensation Gustavo Dudamel as its next music director. And it seems that Angelenos are buying into the hype, selling out The Dude’s (yes, that’s his new nickname) concerts, gossiping about him on local blogs, and even naming a hot dog after him at the city’s most famous dog stand.
CBC Asks Listeners For Patience
The CBC is imploring Canadians to give the revamped Radio 2 (less classical music, more jazz and pop) a chance before judging it to be unworthy. “Thousands of Canadians are worried that CBC Radio is giving up on classical music, that the musical offerings will be the same as the meagre fare being offered on commercial radio, and that the broadcaster is not living up to its public mandate.”
Save The Symphony By Making It About The Music
Ever since the Columbus Symphony announced that it was at risk of shutting down, arts supporters have been trying to muster broader interest in preserving the orchestra. But are the words we use to drum up such support part of the problem? “Describing the symphony as a cultural-arts institution is like describing the Columbus Zoo as a department of biology. It doesn’t sing. Let’s focus on the music, not the institution.”
Could Calgary Become An Arts Hub For The West?
“With money flowing from oil-rich companies, and employees flowing into the city, Calgary could finally break out from under Edmonton’s shadow as a cultural hub for the West… There exists a tremendous spirit of collaboration among arts organizations, which are fighting, en masse, the Cowtown reputation that does little for the city’s cultural cachet.”
TV Will Look Different Post-Strike
Only one US TV network has unveiled its plans for the fall schedule, and in the wake of the writers’ strike, there are plenty of whispers concerning the changes that could be coming to traditional Hollywood ideas about television. “What is certain is that next fall there will be fewer new dramas and comedies premiering across the networks.”
Remembering A Modernist Icon
Architect and educator Ralph Rapson, whose stark, modernist structures defined an era of mid-20th century American design, died last week at age 93. “Rapson’s career, which included scores of houses, churches and performing-arts centers, mixed triumph and disappointment.”
When Did US Politicians Forget About Cities?
“There are three times as many urbanites in America as country folk, yet you wouldn’t know it listening to the three main presidential candidates, or perusing their Web sites… You won’t hear much about aging cities on Earth fighting to keep their downtowns alive and their overcrowded commuter buses on the road. Cities just don’t figure in the political imagination anymore.”
Giving It Away In Order To Get More Later
The internet age may not have had as profound an impact on the world of books as it has had on music, but podcasting and downloadable media have dramatically altered the way authors market themselves. Several authors without major contracts have used free online distribution of their work to build an audience large enough to make them more attractive to publishers.
Yet Another Beatles Lawsuit Drags On
“A company in a court fight with the Beatles has agreed not to release recordings purportedly made during Ringo Starr’s first performance with the group until the case is resolved… Apple Corps claims the songs were taped without the band’s consent.”