Ticketmaster’s exposure to refund claims is uncertain. The company tells its customers that it pays refunds for all canceled shows in about 30 days. But the coronavirus shutdown has dealt a severe economic blow to Ticketmaster and its corporate parent, Live Nation Entertainment; the company reported that its revenue for the second quarter this year dropped 98 percent from the same period in 2019. – The New York Times
Category: issues
Health Insurance For Performing Artists In U.S. Is Rickety Even In Good Times. Now It’s Near Collapse.
“The health care and retirement systems by which performing artists sustain themselves have fallen apart in the pandemic with potentially catastrophic results on both personal and systemic levels. There has to be a better way to do this.” Chris Jones explains how the crisis has come about, why a turf war between unions is making it worse, and why the public should care. – Chicago Tribune
What Will Become Of The Restaurant Review Post-COVID?
As the priorities of culinary discourse shift, one of its most persistent debates has new wrinkles, too. The tradition of critic-bestowed ratings — stars, letter grades, numeric scales — has inspired close to a century of epicurean hand-wringing. We’ve never reached a consensus on the practice, pre-pandemic; will it serve any purpose at all in a post-COVID world? – Inside Hook
Peru Opens Machu Picchu To A Patient Japanese Tourist
The 26-year-old arrived at the site just when it was shutting down seven months ago for the virus. He stayed, waiting, but was running out of money. The Peruvian government decided to let him visit… by himself. – Washington Post
Envisioning A ‘Zoom-Plus’ Made For Virtual Performances
Ron Evans: “We’re still working around the fact that Zoom was not designed for a performing arts experience. What would things look like if the performing arts had a software platform of their own? … It’s clear that [it] would need new functionalities never seen before. But what exactly? I’ve put together a few thoughts.” – Arts Professional
First-Ever National Award For Disabled Artists Launched By Ford And Mellon Foundations
“After a yearlong research study in conversation with disabled people, the initiative” — called Disability Futures — “has named 20 artists, filmmakers and journalists in its first class of fellows, each of whom will receive a grant of $50,000 administered by the arts funding group United States Artists. The 18-month initiative not only pledges financial support, but aims to foster a creative community across mediums and generations.” – The New York Times
With Big, Flexible Spaces, Several New York City Venues Insist They Can Reopen Safely
“The Park Avenue Armory’s vast drill hall has nearly 40,000 square feet of unobstructed open area. The Shed’s central performance space has a 115-foot-high ceiling. St. Ann’s Warehouse has 10 big double doors and a new air ionization system. … They are pressing state regulators to consider a series of architectural advantages that they say should make their buildings easier to adapt for safety than the glorious but cramped houses that symbolize New York’s theater district.” – The New York Times
England Gives £257 Million In Rescue Funding To Museums And Performance Venues
The money, distributed by Arts Council England, is part of the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund announced last week by the UK government. In addition, £103 million has been given to heritage sites, with another £650,000 divided between 42 cinemas. Grants to larger organizations that asked for more than £1 million in aid have yet to be announced. – The Guardian
A Texas Grand Jury Indicts Netflix Over ‘Cuties,’ Showing No Understanding Of The First Amendment
That’s because Texas is, of course, special (in terms of its own laws), but also, perhaps the grand jury didn’t watch the actual film? “The Miller test says that works are protected by the First Amendment if they have what could be characterized as ‘serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value’ when the works were each ‘taken as a whole.'” With Cuties, it would be hard to argue otherwise. – Slate
Florida Performance Venues Are Very Confused About Reopening (Thank You, Gov. DeSantis)
“The governor’s controversial lifting of pandemic protections [on Sept. 25], even as coronavirus infections rose, was just one of multiple conflicting and confusing directives from the state, counties and cities of Florida. … For official live-entertainment venues, the state’s Phase 3 plan … says concerts halls and auditoriums [may] ‘re-open fully with limited social distancing protocols.’ … But the situation for smaller venues, many of which are technically bars, is often different.” – Variety