FEATURE
Why Do Concert Halls Still Matter?
Curbed: Justin Davidson
In this new world of electronic signals piped directly into the brain, the concert hall has become a sonic nature preserve, a haven of unamplified vibrations.
RESEARCH AND OPINION
Nine Predictions for the Future of the Music Business
The Honest Broker: Ted Gioia
Major record labels will gradually turn into sterile IP management companies—it’s already happening—and this will cut them off from the creative currents in society. Read more to see the additional 9 predictions.
American Sign Language Brings New Layers to ‘American Idiot’
New York Times: Gabe Cohn
Performed simultaneously in sign language and sung English, a Los Angeles revival of the Green Day musical finds new ways to communicate rage and angst.
Jennifer Koh seeks innovation and ‘artistic risk’ in revamping chamber music series
NPR: Olivia Hampton
Jennifer Koh is shaking up the long-established chamber music series at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. An example of that is her collaboration with pianist-composer Missy Mazzoli.
Podcast: Ed Carroll on Mastering Music from All Angles
Anthony Plog on Music
Ed shares stories from his time studying with two of the most iconic trumpet teachers of his era—Vincent Cichowitz and William Vacchiano. The podcast dives into his experiences at Juilliard and discusses about his early days in New York, including what it was like to work with legendary conductors like Leonard Bernstein and Pierre Boulez.
At 150, Charles Ives Still Reflects the Darkness and Hope of America
NY Times: Jeremy Denk (JSoM Alumnus, who recently performed at the JSoM Ives Festival!)
This pioneering composer is not the easiest to love. But while he explores the poison of American nationalism, his music also offers an antidote.
Ensemble Dal Niente Brings a Daring, Satirical, and Provocative Program to Constellation
I Care if you Listen: Thulasi Seshan
Constellation is disarmingly nondescript: it’s essentially a black box theater in a converted warehouse on Western Ave. The seats are worn, the foil and insulation is exposed, and everyone in the lobby greets each other like old friends. It’s a setting where you feel relaxed enough to open your mind to anything.
Composer Max Richter: ‘I’m a low-key raver! I love all kinds of music’
The Guardian: Jude Rogers
The creator of the most streamed classical album of all time on working with Margaret Atwood, enjoying Eurovision, and uniting people through music.
NATIONAL
‘Luckiest guy in the world’: Sculpture of John Mellencamp unveiled at IU Bloomington
Indianapolis Star: Holly V. Hays
Rock star and singer-songwriter John Mellencamp is the latest Hoosier legend to be memorialized in bronze on Indiana University’s flagship campus.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s new musical is based on a cult movie — and is for your ears only
NPR: Jennifer Vanasco
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, and playwright Eisa Davis, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, have created a new Broadway musical — which is not actually on Broadway. Instead, it’s a concept album, meant to be listened to in one sitting.
Philadelphia Ballet turns 60, with Angel Corella completing a decade at its helm
Philadelphia Inquirer: Ellen Dunkel
‘They really flew,’ he said of the years. ‘I could think like a few days ago it was when I arrived, and a lot has changed since then. But I think that this year sort of represents the past, the present, and the future of who we are and where the company is heading.’
San Diego’s renovated symphony hall looks great, but how does it sound?
LA Times: Mark Swed
There are many reasons for the current rage in renovating concert halls. It is usually cheaper than building something new. The science, as well as the art, of acoustics has advanced. Renovation can be a good way to save a historic hall. But an argument can also be made for simply starting over.
Why Some Schools In Los Angeles Can’t Access Prop 28’s Extra Arts Education Funding
My News LA: Contributing Editor
While some schools across California tapped into funding to expand art programs, many others are struggling to do the same as a result of a lack of qualified teachers, classroom space and limited schedules, according to a report released in Los Angeles Wednesday.
INTERNATIONAL
TwoSet Violin Bids Farewell After 11 Years
LudwigVan: Michael Vincent
After over a decade of viral success and reshaping the classical music world through humour, Australian violin duo TwoSet Violin — Brett Yang and Eddy Chen — have announced they’re stepping away from content creation.
Behind the scenes of Classically Black: the event championing black British people in classical music
Evening Standard (UK): Vicky Jessop
Bringing together performers from across the country (who have themselves played across the world), this is set to be a celebration of black British people in classical music – and it coincides with the fourth anniversary of its organisers, Black Lives in Music.
The Wildly Subversive Music of Soviet Ukraine
The New York Times: Grayson Haver Currin
An archival label in the United States was going to release a huge compilation of records from the U.S.S.R. Then Russia invaded Ukraine.
‘He had all the stuff you need to be a pop star’: how Liam Payne helped One Direction to global glory
The Guardian: Ben Beaumont-Thomas
Although he was less extroverted than his bandmates, his impressive vocals made him a cornerstone of the era’s defining boyband. So why did he struggle to accept his own greatness?
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND MUSIC BUSINESS
Believe’s Global Head of Music, Romain Vivien, talks artists, AI, streaming fraud, and the future of independence
Music Business Worldwide: Murray Stassen
MBW’s World Leaders series meets Romain Vivien, Global Head of Music at Paris-headquartered music company Believe.
Is California’s Music Festival Boom Over?
SFGate: Timothy Karoff
Typically, the festival sees a surge in ticket sales in June, but in 2024, a surge never arrived. With stalling sales and mounting bills — deposits for stages, bands, portable toilets and security — the outlook was grim
Will Philly Pops ticket holders ever see money for canceled concerts? Lawsuit seeks damages.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Peter Dobrin
A Philly Pops ticket buyer on Wednesday filed a proposed class-action suit seeking restitution for herself and other patrons who bought tickets for Philly Pops concerts that were scheduled but never happened. The Philly Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra, Kimmel Center, Ticket Philadelphia, and its leaders were named in the suit filed in U.S. District Court asking for various kinds of damages.
Digital Music News: Dylan Smith
LiveOne just recently described the pact’s key elements in a standalone release. The Los Angeles-headquartered audio-entertainment service has long been a big part of Tesla’s screen-dashboard music offering – with the vehicle company even subsidizing LiveOne subscriptions for those who pay for Tesla’s own Premium Connectivity subscription.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Confessions of a Spotify Vandal
Hearing Things: Andy Cush
A folk-pop mischief-maker who goes by Catbreath has collected hundreds of thousands of streams by giving his songs prankish titles like “Chill Music,” “Gym Bangers,” and “My Discover Weekly.”
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