Music retailers are turning to sophisticated computer analysis of music to try to recommend music to consumers. “The listeners classify hundreds of characteristics about each song, including beat, melody, lyrics, tonal palette and dynamics, then plug the data into a music recommendation engine — software designed to find songs that share similar traits.”
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TV: New (sort of), Improved (debatable), and Stalking You
The 500-channel universe is old news. Video-on-demand? Been there, done that. TiVO is standard viewing equipment for at least a chunk of the populace. And could television be on the verge of yet another major paradigm shift? You’d better believe it: “Once upon a time, you found TV. Now TV will find you. We’re already watching in elevators, bars, airports, banks, dentist chairs, on street corners. Soon, more of us will be watching on cellphones, in cars, on newfangled wireless gadgets, and if this keeps up, on a tiny matrix implanted into our bionic retinas.”
Everyone Wants To See That Smile
It’s no secret that the Mona Lisa is the biggest art draw on the planet, with 90% of the Louvre’s visitors coming specifically to see the famous DaVinci portrait. Now, the painting has a snazzy new home, and the crowds are bigger than ever…
Are Book Browsers Disappearing?
There are more books available than ever before. And people are still buying. But will booklovers still browse book stores? “People are spending less time in the back of the store, looking through the philosophy section, and more time at the tables for `recommended books’ in front. They’re looking for someone to narrow their choices.”
Russian Wins Cliburn
Russia’s Alexander Kobrin, 25, has won the gold medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The silver medal went to Joyce Yang, 19, of South Korea. Sa Chen, 25, of China took third place. “Each medalist wins $20,000 in cash, three years of concert tours and career management and the opportunity to record an album. Kobrin also will perform internationally.”
It’s Still Fiction, Right?
There may not be a bigger cultural controversy in the world today than the furor surrounding Dan Brown’s novel, The DaVinci Code, and the cottage industry that has grown up around it. Thus far, the book and its fans have not been fazed by the criticisms of, among others, the Catholic Church, but opponents may finally have scored their first victory, as Westminster Abbey denies permission for a film version of the book to be shot inside.
Layoffs At TV Museum
The New York-based Museum of Television and Radio has accepted the resignation of its president and laid off a dozen employees as it attempts to cope with fiscal problems that have plagued the institution for the past several years.
Liquidating Wildenstein?
A court has said one of the biggest private art inventories may have to be sold. “Unless the sons of the late art dealer Daniel Wildenstein, Alec and Guy, reach a settlement with Daniel’s widow, Sylvia Wildenstein, a significant collection of paintings and drawings will be sold at auction in early July.”
Boal’s Last Dance
“Tomorrow afternoon, [Peter Boal] will dance his last performance with the company before moving with his family to Seattle to become artistic director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet… Even today, as he moves into his 40’s, Mr. Boal looks ready to soar at any moment. His dancing is purely, effortlessly classical, the line of his well-proportioned body seeming to fall easily into place. He made up for a body that was relatively short and slight for hefting ballerinas into midair with calm elegance and courtesy as a partner… Some of the best and certainly the most interesting dancers have been men and women who had to overcome shortcomings, often of ‘imperfect’ ballet bodies or of training that started later than the ideal. To work harder to reach perfection is to understand the art more thoroughly and to hunger for it in a way unknown to those for whom dancing comes easily.”
Davidson Goes Out On A Strident Note
Gordon Davidson could have ended his legendary career with Los Angeles’s Center Theater Group with Shakespeare or some other classic. But that really wouldn’t have been in keeping with the Davidson the theatre world has come to know. So it shouldn’t be any real surprise that Davidson’s swan song will be the highly controversial, politically charged drama, Stuff Happens, which purports to examine the decisions that led the U.S. and U.K. into war in Iraq.