“A musicians union has filed a federal lawsuit against the producers of ‘American Idol,’ claiming musicians were underpaid because the show’s live music was re-recorded for reruns… In 2007, the producers started cutting out the show’s soundtrack and using different musicians to re-record new music for the past-season highlights show.”
Author: sbergman
Advertising Without Shouting
“A Bay Area lawmaker is pushing a new bill that would force federal regulators to ratchet down the volume of commercials… British regulators approved similar rules last month that require broadcasters to limit the ‘maximum subjective loudness’ of TV ads after receiving complaints.”
Play For Pay?
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom “has written to instrumental and vocal ensembles that are supported by Grants for the Arts,” requesting that the groups play wedding music at City Hall next week. The wording, which implies that the groups have a duty to perform, has some in the area’s arts scene upset.
Spoiler Alert: Nothing Is Actually Being Spoiled
When did the general public begin caring so much about “spoilers” in movie reviews, sportscasts, and online columns? “Now it seems that everything is a potential spoiler… People will dive into the shrubbery to avoid hearing anything about anything.”
The Long Dark Night Of Van Gogh’s Soul
A new Van Gogh retrospective set to go on display in both the US and Europe examines the artist’s relationship with light and, more importantly, dark. “Van Gogh would often hand-copy pages from novels he was reading that referred to both the physical and mystical aspects of the night.”
Tony Forecast Not As Cut And Dry As Some Think
Tony speculation is rampant in New York this week. “Even in a year like this, when there are what many consider foregone conclusions in some categories and a general if mild dissatisfaction with the choices in others, the old urge to predict remains.”
West Australia PAC Waiting For Help
“A proposed multi-million-dollar Perth Performing Arts Precinct will remain a pipe dream unless the State Government financially commits to the project. Perth City Council has spent $185,000 on creating a masterplan for the concept… But PCC cannot afford to go it alone and is waiting and hoping that a new minister for culture and the arts will offer an olive branch.”
Columbus Youth Orchestras At Risk
With the likely demise of the Columbus Symphony, the community’s youth orchestras, which have always been administered by the CSO, are in trouble. “Symphony leaders… met with 125 parents last week to review options, which could include higher tuition fees, independent fundraising and a bigger role for parent volunteers.”
Chicago Art In A New Light
The Art Institute of Chicago is opening “the first in a sequence of renovated spaces that leads to the dedication of a building for modern and contemporary art next spring… All 3,500 square feet are used for exhibition and include such niceties as a lighting system that uses a low number of foot candles.”
A Politician Defending Artistic Freedom???
“Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is defending the use of tax credits to help fund a controversial new movie about the sex lives of young Canadians. The movie, Young People Fucking, will be released Friday across Canada… McGuinty says it shouldn’t be up to politicians to decide the content of movies, even if they’re investing taxpayers’ money in the production.”