This Week’s Insights: Sales of physical books set a new record in the UK, Netflix weighs bypassing movie theatres altogether, insights into how our musical tastes are set, internships may be making diversity more difficult in the arts, and how about selling the arts with fun?
- Back To The Physical World: Every week we’re seeing signs of a revival of real-world experiences (as opposed to the virtual world). UK booksellers reported last week that sales of physical books rose substantially in 2016 – a record number of books sold, in fact. “Sales of children’s books rose 16% to £365m, with the increase due mainly to the purchase of printed works. Readers also flocked to fitness and self-help books, sending non-fiction sales up 9%. Revenues from fiction fell 7%, the PA’s annual report said.” This corresponds with shrinking sales of e-readers and an increase in the number of independent bookstores.
- Who Needs Theatres? That’s what the new movie studios – like Netflix – are asking. Time was that direct-to-video was an admission that a movie was a dud. Now, the streaming model suggests that a theatre release might not be necessary at all. Says Netflix: “Since our members are funding these films, they should be the first to see them. But we are also open to supporting the large theater chains…” Open to supporting the theatres? So what’s the value proposition for seeing a movie in a theatre from the audience perspective? In the age of on-demand screens everywhere, the answer may not be so obvious for many.
- We Like What We Like (And Then We Stick With It): Ever noticed how many people’s musical taste seems frozen in their youth? Sure there’s the nostalgia factor. But there might be a more complicated reason. Music is a language that must be learned and assimilated. And maybe “it’s simply not realistic to expect someone to respond to music with such life-defining fervour more than once. And it’s not realistic, either, to expect someone comfortable with his personality to be flailing about for new sensibilities to adopt.”
- Are Internships Wrecking The Arts? No, seriously. Of course there’s the whole exploiting cheap labor thing and building art on the backs of the young. But there might be another problem. Internships are usually filled by those able to afford to take them. “The fact that internships are so prevalent in the creative industries is concerning, because the creative workforce lacks ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, particularly at entry level. If internships without measures to ensure equal access are common, there is a risk that the diversity of the sector will suffer.” And when diversity of workers is less, then audiences will be too.
- How To Sell The Arts? Try Fun, Says New Report: This may seem self-evident, but it probably needs repeating. Newbies are drawn more to fun than they are edification. Key to the success of projects is promoting “the ‘fun’ and ‘social’ aspects of participation as opposed to focusing on the artistic aspects of activities”. The report notes that using “exclusive ‘arts’ language and jargon” acts as a barrier to encouraging local communities to get involved.
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