"To speak to MTT about music is not so far removed from speaking frankly of life and death. His music — whether conducting or composing — has everything to do with the push-and-pull of opposing forces and the musical space in between them." - Washington Post
The Hipgnosis Songs Fund long game continues. (As Pitchfork points out, "The firm has acquired several major publishing catalogs from legacy artists, including Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, Jimmy Iovine, and Neil Young.") - Variety
Bandcamp was the one streamer that every fan of music trusted to take care of its artists. When people started leaving Spotify over Joe Rogan, Bandcamp was recommendation for more ethical streaming. Now? Skepticism reigns. - Slate
Before the performance, conductor Ivan Velikanov — a star on the Russian music scene hailed as "the new Teodor Currentzis" — came on stage, gave a short speech calling for peace and led the orchestra in Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." The opera followed. - DW
"Hazel" (formally, the Hazel Wright Organ) was the instrument of the Crystal Cathedral, from which Rev. Robert H. Schuller once hosted the Sunday morning show Hour of Power. After years of repair, Hazel is back home in what's now Christ's Cathedral in the Catholic Diocese of Orange County. - AP
With Bandcamp’s model, buying an album feels like an investment in both the music and the artist, and as a result it’s the best place to buy music on the web. - Fast Company
Spotify said Wednesday it has closed its office in Russia indefinitely because of the “unprovoked attack on Ukraine.” Social media companies with more than 500,000 daily users must have local offices in Russia, according to that country’s law. - Deadline
"At what point does cultural exchange — always a blur between being a humanizing balm and a tool of propaganda — become unbearable? What is sufficient distance from authoritarian leadership? And what is sufficient disavowal, particularly when speaking up could threaten the safety of artists or their families?" - The New York Times
"'It is a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera,' Peter Gelb, the company's general manager, said in a statement. 'Anna is one of the greatest singers in Met history, but with Putin killing innocent victims in Ukraine there was no way forward.'" - The New York Times
Increases in collections from the audio streaming and audio-visual sectors pushed ASCAP’s domestic revenue to $1.011 billion in 2021, up 4.4%, an increase of $42.5 million over 2020. This was the first year that ASCAP domestic revenues from U.S.-licensed performances surpassed $1 billion. - Variety
A large Russian missile was fired at Freedom Square in the center of Ukraine's second-largest city, causing severe damage to the Kharkiv State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Kharkiv Philharmonic Hall. At least ten people are dead and 35 injured. - Classic FM (UK)
The Russian soprano, a former protégée of Gergiev and supporter of Putin who has come under pressure to denounce the invasion of Ukraine, said in a statement, "This is not the right time for me to be performing and making music. I hope my audience will understand this decision." - Euronews
The 35-year-old Wellington native, principal guest conductor of the Dallas Symphony and music director of the Hamilton (Ont.) Philharmonic, is not only the first woman to helm the orchestra in its 75-year history, she is the first native New Zealander in the position since 1954. - Stuff (New Zealand)
The Bavarian capital's mayor followed through on his warning that the Russian maestro would be dismissed if he didn't denounce Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Gergiev lost several other gigs over the weekend as well, including honorary chair of the Edinburgh International Festival. - BBC
