Tag: 07.03.06

Has MTV Lost It?

“The 1990s were the golden age of MTV; it launched channels across the globe, eventually boasting more than 70 million subscribers. On the eve of the channel’s 25th birthday, however, a crisis is looming. The music industry has been transformed since MTV’s launch, with new temptations of the iPod era hitting the target demographic of 18- to 24-year-olds. Ratings have risen only 5 per cent over the past five years, compared to its sister channel VH1’s 17 per cent growth. The company itself admits there is a problem.”

Escalating Tensions In Seattle Symphony Dispute

A survey taken by musicians of the Seattle Symphony rating music director Gerard Schwarz is to be out this week. But the orchestra’s executive board reportedly did an analysis of the survey’s methodology. “Its report concluded that the June 1 survey was flawed in design, data collection and overall methodology, so that its ‘results are highly suspect’. The board’s executive committee believes the survey may also be a breach of the musicians’ contract.”

The Conductor Who Stayed Too Long?

The Seattle Symphony is in turmoil after the orchestra renewed music director Gerard Schwarz’s contract. “The larger question — how long before a music director overstays his welcome? — is pressingly relevant to any orchestra. And as the turbulence up north suggests, the answer is that the cutoff date comes sooner than some people are willing to believe.”

Code: Spinning Music For Computer

“A new brand of music maestro is turning programming into performance, eschewing turntables for a compiler and a mind for syntax structure. ‘Livecoding’ practitioners improvise using Perl or homemade programming architectures to build compositions from the ground up, replacing instruments and samples with raw code authoring before a live audience.”

Smelly Playback

Scientists in Japan are building an odor recorder. “Simply point the gadget at a freshly baked cookie, for example, and it will analyse its odour and reproduce it for you using a host of non-toxic chemicals. The device could be used to improve online shopping by allowing you to sniff foods or fragrances before you buy, to add an extra dimension to virtual reality environments and even to assist military doctors treating soldiers remotely by recreating bile, blood or urine odours that might help a diagnosis.”

Hollywood In China?

“The Chinese film industry and Chinese politicians want their own version of Hollywood, to create blockbusters of Titanic­­­ proportions. It’s a strategy that’s half-succeeding; the Chinese industry is managing to make a few films that sell in the United States. But the other side of Hollywood—domestic box-office success—is proving elusive. As a result, the Chinese industry is increasingly making films designed to fit American tastes, like the Wal-Mart factories in China that make baseball mitts for American Little-Leaguers.”

Studio Fears Of Film Fest Piracy

Film studios are cracking down on film festivals, in some cases removing their films because of fears of piracy. “The leading film festivals offer potential pirates tempting fruit. Those festivals (Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, Telluride, Berlin, Venice) tend to show acclaimed films months before their theatrical premieres. Cellphones are rarely confiscated at festival doors; in fact, scores of Sundance Film Festival attendees talk and send e-mails on their mobile devices during screenings. Finally, festival venues are usually run by volunteers, people with little expertise in security issues.”