It took centuries for the public sphere to develop—and the technology companies have eviscerated it in a flash. By radically remaking the advertising business and commandeering news distribution, Google and Facebook have damaged the economics of journalism. Amazon has thrashed the bookselling business in the U.S. They have shredded old ideas about intellectual property—which had provided the economic and philosophical basis for authorship. The old, enfeebled institutions of the public sphere have grown dependent on the big technology companies for financial survival. And with this dependence, the values of big tech have become the values of the public sphere.
Category: AUDIENCE
How – And Why? – Are Plays And Musicals About The Subjugation Of Women On Broadway Right Now?
My Fair Lady and Carousel were both revived with careful and lush attention to their music, but they were nominated for few Tonys, and both lost Best Musical Revival to the comparatively little-known Once on This Island. “The beautiful orchestra readings alone make a trip to each revival essential for anyone who can afford a ticket — it’s hard to imagine Carousel, in particular, sounding so good again.
What Audience Members Now Think When A Ballet Suddenly Stops
During a performance of Swan Lake, “The curtain came down. The orchestra stopped. The house lights came up. There was no announcement. Most people were on their feet, and many started heading for the doors. We debated what to do. We scanned the crowds below, trying to make sense of what we were seeing. In the balcony, we were acutely aware of how high up our seats were and how many people were in the building. Our hearts were pounding. We did not see a threat, but people were reacting as though something were very wrong.”
Ireland’s Extremely Cool Orchestra Members Play David Bowie In Their Wellies
The Trinity Orchestra plays everywhere, including summer music festivals (which can be rather damp on the Emerald Isle). “‘The priority is not to lose your instrument when you’re camping,’ says Kellie O’Neill, nodding. ‘Yep. That would be pretty bad.'”
Without The Musician Drake, Toronto Would Lose A Lot Of Tourist Money
Seriously, a study shows that he may be worth as much as $440 million to Toronto. (Be sure to watch the video.)
Billboard Music Charts Used To Be A Measure Of Music Success. Do They Matter Anymore?
Do the charts even matter to most consumers? Maybe — but probably not. “They matter to record companies in terms of market share and clout. But I don’t think consumers really read the charts anymore.”
Brooklyn’s Big, Busy Pirate Radio Scene
“Transmitted from the roofs of churches and apartment buildings, unlicensed radio stations offer listeners spiritual sustenance, immigration information, and news from home.”
Companies Who Use Ticket Bots Now Face Unlimited Fines In UK
“Industry groups hailed the new law, which comes amid a wider effort to crack down on secondary ticketing, where touts use websites such as StubHub and Viagogo to resell seats at in-demand events for vast mark-ups. But a leading security and ticketing expert warned that the most prolific touts would still be able to get their hands on tickets using tried-and-tested methods.”
‘Alexa, Give Money To My NPR Station’
With the spread of virtual-assistant and smart-speaker technologies – one out of every five U.S. homes with wi-fi has Alexa or an equivalent – both the national NPR network and Seattle public radio station KUOW are experimenting with ways to let listeners donate with a simple voice command.
Ghanaian Orchestra Gives European Classical Music An African Beat
“The Accra Symphony Orchestra is hoping to make a new generation in Ghana fall in love with classical music. The BBC went to see them in action and to hear how they’re winning over audiences with their fusion of African and Western classical art forms.” (video)