Audible, the massive audiobook company that’s owned by Amazon, just announced a “first round” of commissions for playwrights including Lauren Gunderson and Leah Winkler. But the plays won’t just be recorded and downloadable: “Audible intends to stage live productions of these plays. Katz likes the idea of limited runs that will allow producers to recruit big-name actors.”
Category: AUDIENCE
YouTube Disables Ads On One Of Its Biggest Stars
YouTube had previously pulled Logan Paul’s channels from the Google Preferred premium-advertising program following the suicide video. In the wake of the controversy, Paul also lost a series deal with French digital studio Blackpills and was cut from YouTube Red’s original series “Foursome.” He is represented by CAA and affiliated with Studio71.
What Happens When You Take People’s Smartphones Away At Concerts
The effects are immediate: At first, people seem agitated and unsure of what to do with their hands. But then they adjust. “In line at the concession stand, you’ll overhear people talking about the artist and the show, and then about the fact that they’re having this conversation because they don’t have phones. You’ll see people fully engaged with each other talking, and the feel of it is radically different.”
Is It Time For The UK To Stop Building New Museums?
“A recent government report says that Britain should stop building new museums and focus on the ones it already has. But with limited public funding available, how far can existing museums diversify and grow?” An official with Britain’s Museums Association agrees with the report, while former Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has a different idea.
Minnesota Public Radio Begins Somali-Language Service
Walking the walk in terms of serving underserved communities, MPR has beta-launched an online local-and-global-news channel for Minnesota’s 31,400 Somalis, the state’s second-largest group of foreign-born residents.
Theatre Access For All – It’s Coming But Audience Attitudes Need To Change
Many audience members seem increasingly intolerant of any distraction in their theatregoing experience, an attitude likely brought on in part by the steep rise in ticket prices. Will the use of smart phones, even with a non-glare app, inspire some nasty exchanges? Will open captioning continue to be seen as some kind of niche practice that intrudes on the serenity of the “mainstream”? Will autistic audience members always be accommodated through a policy of separate but equal?
The ‘Netflix Of Reading’ Is Finally Taking Off
“Amazon stepped into e-book rentals in 2014 with its $10-per-month Kindle Unlimited service … But a small competitor named Scribd started even earlier and offers larger quantities of popular content – for a buck less. In the past year, it’s grown subscribers by over 40% to 700,000 (still well behind Kindle Unlimited’s estimated 2.5 million-plus) and has started making a steady monthly profit. After introducing unlimited reading and then moving away from it, the company is bringing it back, with some limitations designed to make it economically viable.”
The Joyce Theatre Rethinks How To Sell Tickets
“The JoycePass gives registered dance professionals the opportunity to buy $10 tickets to any performance this season. The Pay What You Decide initiative invites patrons to watch selected shows and then decide what they would like to pay.”
Performers In “Sleep No More”, The Immersive Theatre Sensation, Say Audience Members Groped Them
It’s a theatrical phenomenon, attracting celebrities and pop culture cameos. Performers say it is one of the most exciting productions they could list on a resume. But eight former Sleep No More performers and staffers told BuzzFeed News they were groped by audience members during the show. In all, BuzzFeed News confirmed 17 incidents of groping or sexual misconduct by patrons during the show — including of two former performers who were groped multiple times.
Virtual Reality Can Be Compelling (Try It, You’ll See). But Whether It Survives As A Medium Is A Challenge
Looking back, every successful medium has either “killed” a predecessor (in the manner that television displaced radio in the home, or that streaming video is chipping away at cable) or “colonized” time and attention that was unused or used for something else. However, that was somewhat easier when people actually had free time. Today, we live in a media environment where billions of dollars are spent fighting for the time spent “waiting at the bus stop.”