“For these relative unheards fronting large jazz bands, a Grammy, while nice, probably won’t transform a career. A few extra commissions might come through, a hall might get booked a little more easily. But there will be no need for Ray-Bans and floppy hats, or checking into hotel rooms under assumed names.”
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Pollocks To Be Retested For Authenticity
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation says that six Jackson Pollock paintings tested and spotted as frauds by physicist will be retested. “All of Jackson Pollock’s poured paintings analysed by my research group are composed of a highly specific and identifiable form of fractal patterning. Pollock’s specific fractal signature has not been found in the submitted paintings. The analysis has also revealed that the patterns vary between the paintings, indicating that they may have been painted by different hands.”
Another Public Broadcasting Offical Quits
Michael Pack, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s top TV executive has resigned. “This is the latest in a string of departures of officials and consultants who played central roles in an effort by conservatives to bring what they viewed as more balance to public television and radio.”
Australian Theatres Struggling
“The Bell Shakespeare Company, Queensland Theatre Company, Sydney’s Company B and Circus Oz are also forecasting losses this year, with combined deficits of $1.5million. Theatres were employing fewer actors and their work on stage was losing vitality because of growing financial pressures, a report released yesterday found.”
Munitz Out At Getty
Tyler Green reports that Barry Munitz is stepping down as president of the Getty Trust. Munitz has been under fire in the past year. “In a letter to the Board, Dr. Munitz said that with the Getty’s vision and strategic priorities clarified and supported, a new museum director in place, the Getty Villa reopened after an eight-year period, the Trust endowment in solid financial shape and talks underway to resolve issues surrounding the Getty’s antiquities collection, his work at the Getty was complete.”
Baaaah! The Music We Like? Turns Out We’re All Sheep!
“A new study reveals that we make our music purchases based partly on our perceived preferences of others. Researchers found that popular songs were popular and unpopular songs were unpopular, regardless of their quality established by the other group. They also found that as a particular songs’ popularity increased, participants selected it more often. The upshot for markerters: social influence affects decision-making in a market.”
Barry Munitz’s Fall
“Munitz’s resignation marked a stunning downfall for a man who brought extensive business and academic experience to the world’s richest art institution, not to mention a bevy of friendships with Los Angeles’ power elite.”
Getty Prez Resigns Under Pressure
“In interviews, Barry Munitz has defended his actions and his spending, saying that his job required him to court powerful collectors and donors around the world. He has also stressed that trust’s board had approved all his expenses, including first-class air travel, stays at five-star hotels and a leased Porsche Cayenne.”
Journalism In the Age Of Petroleum Geoloists
The American Association of Petroleum Geologists has awarded its annual journalism award this year to Michael Crichton, the science fiction writer whose latest book, “State of Fear,” dismisses global warming as a largely imaginary threat embraced by malignant scientists for their own ends. “It is fiction,” conceded Larry Nation, communications director for the association. “But it has the absolute ring of truth.”
HarperCollins Racks Record Profits
Thanks to its 170 Narnia titles, HarperCollins has had one of its most profitable quarters ever. “Operating income jumped 24% at HarperCollins in the second quarter of fiscal 2006 ended December 31, to $77 million, despite revenue increasing less than 4%, to $390 million.”