Simon & Schuster is launching a publishing service for mobile phones. “The deal, which will target 18 to 34 year-olds, will allow the imprint to market a number of its current and forthcoming titles through a subscription-based service that sends text messages, excerpts, previews and cover art to cell phone users. There will be “a nominal fee” for the content, with a portion of the revenue going to S&S.”
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Greeks Investigating Antiques Smuggling
Greek authorities say they are investigating a suspected conspiracy to smuggle antiquities hidden on a remote island to major museums and other buyers abroad.
Are America’s Best Pop Singers From The South?
Who wins on “American Idol”? “For five years, the most wildly popular talent contest on American television has been dominated — thoroughly, totally and completely — by kids from Southern Hicksville, USA. Seven of the eight top-two finishers in the first four years were from states that once formed the Confederacy, and five of the seven remaining finalists this season are, too.”
Cimolino To Lead Stratford?
Ontario’s Stratford Festival is expected to name Antoni Cimolino as its new director. “Over the past two years, the search committee has interviewed important figures from English-language theatre around the world, but in the end the board has apparently decided to go with an individual who has literally grown up with the festival since joining it as an actor 18 years ago.”
TV Everywhere
“Producers and broadcasters are feverishly searching for more and more places to sell their wares, from computer screens to cell phones to iPods and a plethora of miniature multimedia players. And more people are watching more TV shows when they want to, where they want to, not when or where the networks say they should. One result may be that Americans are growing closer to their gadgets, and apart from each other. Another may be that local television stations will lose some part of their audiences.”
Ohio Ballet Director Blames Press
The artistic director of Ohio ballet complains that press coverage of his company helped lead to the company’s current difficulties and cancellation of a spring season. “In his view, the preview stories have discouraged people from buying tickets, and the reviews have been negative and nasty. His complaints are not limited to coverage of the ballet during his seven-year tenure. He also cited criticism of his predecessor, founding artistic director Heinz Poll, and he suggested that ‘nagging reviews’ of Cleveland San Jose Ballet contributed to that company’s demise.”
Dealers Scour Art Schools For Stars
“With global auction sales hitting $4.2 billion last year and scores of new galleries fighting for inventory, some dealers are reaching out to a largely untapped group of American artists: the impossibly precocious. From art hubs like New York to spots like Fort Wayne, Ind., dealers, collectors and museum curators are scouting artists still in their teens and early 20s. Painters who aren’t old enough to rent a car are hiring personal assistants, turning down interviews and having their work snapped up by such major collectors as Michael Ovitz and Charles Saatchi.”
Lang Lang – Top Of His Game
Lang Lang is only 23 years old, but his career as a pianist is at the top of the classical music world. “The Philadelphia-based pianist is professor in five conservatories in his native China – and just bought an apartment in Berlin. He plays 150 concerts a year, but he also appears on Sesame Street. There’s also that goodwill UNICEF ambassadorship to Africa.”
In A Sea Of 9/11 Art, The Movies Show Up Late
For 4 1/2 years, not a week, perhaps even a day, has gone by without mention of Sept. 11. Our newspapers and magazines have been filled with stories, often illustrated by graphic photographs of the tragedy. Stacks of books have been written. The war on terrorism has been a central focus of our political lives. So many documentaries and TV movies have been made about 9/11 that reviewers now contrast the new offerings the way film critics compare vintage versus latter-day Scorsese films.” But it’s taken this long for a movie to weigh in…
Getty Off Probation
The Council on Foundations has taken the Getty Trust off probation, citing “significant reforms” in the organization’s operations. “Controversy flared last year over the spending habits of President Barry Munitz. Munitz, who had traveled often, widely and in first class at Getty expense, stepped down in February from the $9-billion nonprofit, which operates the Getty Museum in Brentwood and the Getty Villa near Malibu.”