Category: music

Philadelphia Orchestra President Steps Down

Joe Kluger is stepping down as president of the Philadelphia Orchestra after 16 years. “Kluger’s tenure makes him the second-longest current chief of a major American orchestra (after Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra president Steven Monder), according to the American Symphony Orchestra League. Kluger, 50, said that he will take on a consulting role with Adrian Ellis, whose firm, AEA Consulting, specializes in facilities and operational issues for arts groups. Kluger said that he does not know if that will be a short- or long-term step in his career.”

What Does Your Cell Phone Ring Tone Say About You?

“Ringtones, the catchy electronic snippets of popular songs that echo from sleek wireless phones, have become ubiquitous among teenagers to thirty-somethings. They were the first to adopt the wireless technology that not only announces incoming calls but also chimes out a little something about the owner’s personality. But while hits by Usher and Missy Elliott may be all the rage on campus, they probably won’t get the same reaction in the workplace.”

Montreal Musicians Picket Symphony

Musicians of the Montreal Symphony were out walking a picket line Monday as the orchestra went on strike. “The union said orchestra management has demanded that musicians work more consecutive days than the labour law permits, for example, and has made insulting salary offers. Management at the symphony, which has a $3.4-million deficit, said in a statement Monday it regrets the strike and blamed the union for not allowing non-monetary changes to the contract that would have allowed for a resumption in recording and touring.”

Cleveland Orchestra Signs Up With Miami

It’s official – the Cleveland Orchestra has signed a ten year deal to play annual three-week residencies in the new Miami Performing Arts Center. “The visiting orchestra will be strengthening its existing relationship with the New World Symphony, based in Miami Beach, as well as establishing one with the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, putting students at both institutions together with world-class musicians. The Florida Philharmonic was likely to have been the resident orchestra at the PAC, until the Philharmonic went bankrupt.”

Did Buena Vista Composers Get Ripped Off?

A court in London considers whether composers of the music played by the wildly popular Buena Vista Social club were properly compensated. “The argument centres on whether the composers of music that took the world by storm in 1997 were properly rewarded or, instead, received “at most a few pesos and maybe a drink of rum”. The plot is complicated by allegations that the Cuban publisher is under the direction and control of the Cuban ministry of the interior.”

Yahoo! A New Music Store

Yahoo! launches a discount music download service it hopes will attract downloaders away from illegal downloading. “Yahoo Music Unlimited is more like a cable TV service than a record store, letting subscribers play as much music as they wish for as long as they pay $6.99 a month or an annual subscription of $60.”