Selling Out?

“Where once pop musicians and their fans were revolted at the thought of letting beloved singles be used to sell sports cars, software or beer, today’s fans are largely accepting while many musicians are eager to sign on. To some degree, this change in attitude represents a shift away from the Sixties-schooled idealism of the Baby Boomers and toward the media-savvy cynicism of Generations X and Y.”

Looking For A Saviour

The English National Opera, leaderless, £3 million in debt and about to be ousted from its home because of a costly renovation, is looking for someone to save it. Could that savioor be Graham Vick, one of “Britain’s few real world-class opera stars and a man not afraid of working with a large heap of manure?”

Don’t Copy, Don’t Play

Recording companies tired of seeing their new releases copied and released online even before they hit stores, are tightening security. They’re not sending advance copies out, and limited pre-release copies are digitally marked so they can be traced if copied. “With certain releases, the record companies are much more careful. Record reps are now booking appointments with me to play certain songs. I either have to hear it in their cars or in my office, or somewhere else private, and they won’t leave behind a CD.”