“The message is clear: streaming music is good for British record labels, after a decade of declining sales. Yet it’s fair to ask another question: whether the rapid growth in streaming music payments to labels is as good news for the companies making those payments.”
Are We Merely Prisoners Of Our Biochemistry? (What About Reason?)
Because our thoughts and actions are the products of our brains, and because what our brains do is determined by the physical state of the world and the laws of physics—perhaps with a dash of quantum randomness in the mix—there seems to be no room for choice. As the author and neuroscientist Sam Harris has put it, we are “biochemical puppets.”
Russia’s Feminist Art Collective’s Protests Raising Visibility And Losing Political Traction
Pussy Riot’s “punk prayer” would propel them – and Russia’s burgeoning protest movement – on to the global stage. It would also, arguably, mark the point at which that same movement lost any hope of success in Russia itself.
Want Your Show To Make It On Broadway? It’s All About The Branding
On the Broadway of the 21st century, especially in the very risky and very expensive arena of musicals, it’s not enough just to have a gimmick. If you want the crowds to come, you gotta have a brand name.
Study Of Jazz Performers’ Brains Show Connections Between Language, Music
“Until now, studies of how the brain processes auditory communication between two individuals have been done only in the context of spoken language. But looking at jazz lets us investigate the neurological basis of interactive, musical communication as it occurs outside of spoken language.”
Music Awards Sponsor Tries To Muscle Journalists To Dictate Coverage
“Before providing two journalists from the Telegraph with accreditation to attend the event House PR has asked them to agree to a number of requests about the coverage they will give it. They have even gone as far as to draft Twitter messages which they would like the journalists to send out.”
The Uselessness Of Positive Thinking
According to a great deal of research, positive fantasies may lessen your chances of succeeding.
A Panel Of Washington DC Theatre Heads Turns Uncomfortable When The Subject Of Diversity Comes Up
“Are the current heads of these organizations really incapable of implementing change? No. It’s a choice. It’s passing off responsibility and accountability to the next generation.”
Cossacks Beat Pussy Riot With Horsewhips in Sochi
The balaclava-clad Russian rockers were just starting a protest song in front of an administrative building in downtown Sochi when members of a Cossack militia (brought into town as extra security for the Winter Olympics) attacked them with whips and pepper spray. The song: “Putin Will Teach You How to Love the Motherland”. (includes photos and video)
The Music Voyager Is Carrying Into Deep Space: It’s About the Solar System
Alex Ross talk with composer Laurie Spiegel, whose composition Harmonices Mundi, which is on the recording attached to the space vessel, “is a realization of Johannes Kepler’s hypothesis that the motion of the planets can be translated into a ‘never-ending polyphonic music’.” (includes audio and video)
Harper Lee Settles Lawsuit With Hometown Museum
In December the author sued a small museum in her Alabama hometown, accusing it of profiting from her intellectual property without compensating her. It was the second lawsuit Lee had filed within six months.
Elaine Stritch on Humor
“Humor is a great boom-boom against tough stuff. Make ’em laugh, make ’em laugh, make ’em laugh. I’ve been dependent on it, maybe too much so, all through my life. And I think sadness can also help. Whatever helps, grab it and run.”
If a Blind Date Was a Piece of Theater Over an Hour, What Would It Look Like?
That is what actress Bojana Novakovic and her colleagues are aiming to find out, in an improvised theater piece performed every Wednesday night in an L.A. karaoke bar.
Kennicott: The End Of The Corcoran Gallery
“The National Gallery is hands down the most prestigious and respected steward of fine art in Washington, and its reputation is international. But this is not a swallowing of the Corcoran — this is the end of the Corcoran and its final dismemberment.”
Take Two: FCC Has A New Proposal On Net Neutrality (Yay)
“The proposal on so-called net neutrality, to be introduced by Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the commission, will prohibit broadband companies from blocking any sites or services from consumers. It will also aim to prevent Internet service providers from charging content companies for access to a faster, express lane on the web.”
Breaking: National Gallery To Take Over Corcoran Gallery?
“The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington’s oldest private art museum, and its venerable college of art and design would cease to exist as an independent institution, and its key components — artwork, historic building and school program — would be taken over by the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University, under a plan announced Wednesday afternoon.”
How Social Media And Netflix Are Bringing Back Appointment TV
“Even when time-shifting is available, for the super-fans it can be more rewarding to rearrange schedules and weather the commercials in order to watch the show live, if only to remain plugged into the running internet commentary.”
The Six British Architects Who Have Changed The Modern City
Many of the world’s most striking modern buildings from the past 60 years have been created by a single generation of six British architects – each known for their distinctive high-tech style.
Milestone: Digital Music Sales Now Account For 50 Percent Of Music Sales In UK
Digital album sales and a surge in streaming boosted total digital revenue in 2013 to £365m – up from £326m (a 45.5% share) in 2012.
Woman Arrested, Jailed For Failing To Return A Video She Rented NINE Years Ago
The movie was “Monster in Law”. Kayla “Finley spent Thursday night in jail and was released Friday on a $2,000 personal recognizance bond, according to authorities. If convicted, she could face up to 30 days in jail and $500 in court fines.”
Dudamel Reacts To Criticism: Music Should Not Be In Politics
Dudamel “rejects calls to make a political statement, saying it would not be in the spirit of El Sistema, a foundation of the government serving more than 500,000 school children and probably its most popular program. It is not a political institution, Dudamel said. It belongs to no one party or group but the entire citizenry, and he said he will do everything in his power to keep it out of politics.”
Marco Rubio Calls Obama’s Apology For Art History Joke “Pathetic”
The President wrote a personal letter to the professor this week apologizing for his “off-the-cuff remarks” — a mea culpa that Rubio thinks is “pathetic.”
Artist Who Smashed Ai Weiwei Vase: I Didn’t Know It Was 2,000 Years Old!
Maximo Caminero: “If you saw the vases on display and the way they were painted there was no way one would think the artist had painted over an ancient artifact. Instead, I thought it was a common clay pot like you would find at Home Depot, frankly.”
Watch Maximo Caminero Smash Ai Weiwei’s $1M Vase
Oh yes, it was caught on video.