MUSIC

Universal Music Group Contemplating A $1.5B Bond Sale

Universal Music has a one euro billion bridge loan, which was arranged earlier this year, that matures in late July – as well as a 500 million euro bond due in 2027 – data compiled by Bloomberg showed. - Business Times

Geneva’s Orchestre De La Suisse Romande Names Tugan Sokhiev Principal Conductor

“The initial three-season appointment will begin with the 2026–27 season, marking the conductor’s first major long-term leadership position since stepping down from his posts at the Bolshoi Theatre and the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse in 2022.” - Moto Perpetuo

Vinyl Is Back, But It’s Also Polluting The Planet

“Modern vinyl records are crafted with PVC resin, which makes up more than 75% of an average disk The synthetic polymer itself is made of chlorine and fossil fuel-derived feed stock.” Um, yikes? - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo)

An Appreciation For Kanya King, Who Changed And ‘Revolutionized’ Black British Culture

The founder of the Mobo Awards was “engaging, self-effacing, funny, modest. Someone with so much to brag about but who was so humble. Her superpower, it turns out, was kindness and warmth.” - The Guardian (UK)

The Story Of Hong Kong’s Popular Music Can Tell The Tale Of The City’s History

Cantopop is "predominantly Hong Kong music that blends Chinese and western pop sensibilities.” - The Guardian (UK)

The Kennedy Center’s Lawsuit Against Musician Who Refused To Play Christmas Eve Is Tossed Out

“The judge, Tanya M. Jones Bosier, wrote that the Kennedy Center failed to prove that Chuck Redd, a jazz musician and a host of the institution’s holiday program, had signed a contract to perform as he had in years past.” - The New York Times

Meet One Of The American Revolution’s Leading Composers, William Billings

The self-taught composer, who lived in Boston during the revolution years, published six books of music, with over 340 choral works. In addition to the Psalm settings and fuguing tunes he’s remembered for today, he wrote what may be America’s first protest song — in response to the Boston Massacre of 1770. - The Conversation

The Music Industry’s Music Streaming Problem

The industry is not short of superfans. It never has been. It is short of the infrastructure and the will to treat them as customers. - Music Business Worldwide

National Symphony Is Paralyzed Because Kennedy Center Still Hasn’t Approved Its Budget

The National Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming season is in jeopardy because the Kennedy Center has not approved its budget, according to officials familiar with the situation, depriving the ensemble of the money it needs to book venues and soloists, announce its season and sell subscriptions. - The Washington Post

The Leading AI Music-Generation Company, Suno, Has More Than Doubled Its Market Value To $5.4 Billion

“The (latest) funding round” — a sale of stock which raised $400 million — “comes just six months after Suno previously announced a $250 million funding round that had valued the company at $2.45 billion.” - The Hollywood Reporter

The Composer-Conductor Who Pioneered European Opera In Japan

Manfred Gurlitt was reluctant to leave Germany when the Nazis came to power, but he ultimately had to flee and ended up in Tokyo. By 1941 he was music director of the Tokyo Philharmonic; a decade later, he had founded his own opera company and taught most of Japan’s opera singers. - Bachtrack

Ben Folds: The National Symphony Is In Peril

The NSO doesn’t even know if it has a home, given the previously announced two-year closure of the Kennedy Center. This is a very bad sign. Further, the tools for survival are entangled in the Kennedy Center’s legal and financial troubles. - Variety

London’s Royal Opera House Is Embracing AI. Some Musicians Aren’t Happy

"We started programming SHIFT because there is a bit of a crisis in the performing arts with regards to machine learning. There's absolute panic. And in fact last year, when we announced it, some leading people in the arts were describing AI as evil and as the devil." - The Independent

It’s Just A Few Cents: More People Are Listening To Music Pitched Down To A=432Hz

“Music recorded in 432 hertz (cycles per second) is taking off on social media platforms and music streaming services. … Scientists say there’s no robust evidence that music tuned to 432 hertz has any special benefits or healing properties. Some musicians and listeners say it helps them connect with nature, relax or concentrate.” - AP

University Student Audience Member Steps In To Finish Performance When Keyboardist Falls Ill

The orchestra’s keyboardist had suddenly fallen ill. Was there by any chance a pianist in the house? And one with exceptional sight-reading skills? - The Guardian

Our Free Newsletter

Join our 30,000 subscribers

Latest

Don't Miss