FEATURE
The Royal Ballet and Opera Confronts the Rise of A.I. With a New Festival
NY Times: Farah Nayeri
As an art form, opera has not typically been associated with cutting-edge technology. Born four centuries ago, it traditionally involves singers swaddled in corsets, tailcoats or togas acting out stories of courtly intrigue and mythological doom. Yet the worlds of opera and technology are overlapping more and more, including in the realm of artificial intelligence, which has both its admirers and critics.
RESEARCH AND OPINION
How the Italian anthem ‘Bella Ciao’ is connected to Charlie Kirk’s killing
NPR: Chloe Veltman
The words “O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao” form the chorus of “Bella Ciao” — a song with murky origins and an evolving legacy ranging from being sung by workers in the rice fields of 19th-century Italy to appearing in a contemporary TV show and video game.
The Colorful, Scandalous, True History of the Machine That Created American Pop
Smithsonian Magazine: Steven Melendez
The jukebox got its start earlier than you might think, but it truly became iconic when rock ‘n’ roll took over in the 1950s.
Sacred texts and ‘little bells’: The building blocks of Arvo Pärt’s musical masterpiece
The Conversation: Jeffers Engelhardt
The Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, who turns 90 on Sept. 11, 2025, is one of the most frequently performed contemporary classical composers in the world. Beyond the concert stage and cathedral choir, Pärt’s music features heavily in film and television soundtracks: “There Will Be Blood,” “Thin Red Line” or “Wit,” for instance.
Art shouldn’t make us afraid: my three principles for healthy artmaking
Arts Hub: Steven Schick
Percussionist, composer and author Steven Schick makes a case for optimism in art ahead of his upcoming Australian residency.
The man who can save classical music, John Gilhooly
The Spectator: Richard Bratby
Richard Bratby talks to John Gilhooly, director of the Wigmore Hall, about life after the Arts Council.
David Bowie’s secret final project discovered locked in his study
BBC: Mark Savage
When David Bowie died in 2016, his parting gift was a final album, Blackstar, shaped by his cancer diagnosis and an acceptance of mortality. But in his final months, he had also started another project, described in his notes as an “18th Century musical”.
NATIONAL
Ojai Music Festival Appoints Conductor/Composer Teddy Abrams as Artistic and Executive Director
San Francisco Classical Voice: Tom Jacobs
The Ojai Music Festival has announced that the 38-year-old Berkeley native, who is also an accomplished composer and pianist, will become its next artistic and executive director. He will assume the position on Sept. 1, 2026. Abrams’s will then oversee the 81st Ojai Festival in June, 2027.
Kennedy Center Fires Head of Jazz Programming, Adding to String of Exits
The Washington Post: Travis Andrews and Janay Kingsberry
The Kennedy Center has fired the administrator overseeing its jazz offerings, the latest in a string of staff shake-ups since President Donald Trump took Control of the Institution in February.
Metropolitan Opera Extends General Manager Contract
The Violin Channel
Peter Gelb, who was first appointed to the role in 2006, will continue in his position at The Metropolitan Opera through 2030. “The richest people in America aren’t interested in the arts. They’re interested in important things, like Bill Gates eradicating disease, or in social justice,” he added. “But we need to convince them that an artistic company like the Met is part of the social justice system. That’s my job, to persuade them.”
Peter Gelb Looking to License Met Opera’s Intellectual Property & Naming Rights to Met Building
Opera Wire: Francisco Salazar
According to the Agence France-Presse, “Gelb is actively exploring other sources of raising funds including licensing agreements of its intellectual property, as well as naming rights to the Met building at Lincoln Center.”
Peter’s Arabian Nights at the Metropolitan Opera
parterre box: Dawn Fatale
The Metropolitan Opera announced that it has reached an agreement whereby the Met will become the resident winter company of Saudi Arabia’s new Royal Diriyah Opera House upon its completion.
INTERNATIONAL
Hybe Latin America Launches Regional Mexican Music Label S1ento Records
Music Business Worldwide: Murray Stassen
HYBE Latin America has set up a new regional Mexican music-focused label called S1ENTO Records. The label’s launch and operations are being led by Emmy-nominated executive Myrna Pérez as General Manager, based in Los Angeles.
For Many Cuban Ballet Dancers, Forging a Path Forward Means Leaving
NY Times: Nina Strochlic
As the country’s economy falters, members of the storied Cuban National Ballet have sought and found work in companies abroad.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & BUSINESS
US Streaming Subscriptions Hit 105.3m In H1 2025, But Recorded Music Revenue Was Up By Less Than 1% YoY
Music Business Worldwide: Murray Stassen
The United States’ recorded music industry saw revenue growth of just 0.9% YoY in the first half of 2025. That’s according to the new data published by the RIAA today (September 9), which shows the United States generated USD $5.59 billion in wholesale recorded music revenue in the six months to end of June.
Spotify Says 1,000+ Artists Have Featured In Its ‘Radar’ Program, And Have Racked Up 338bn+ Streams On The Platform
Music Business Worldwide: Mandy Dalugdug
Spotify said its artist development program RADAR has supported over 1,000 artists across more than 180 markets since its launch in 2020. The streaming giant said the program has generated substantial engagement metrics, with RADAR artists accumulating more than 338 billion streams collectively, while sparking more than 6.5 billion song discoveries on the platform.
Miles Davis’ Publishing Catalog Acquired by Reservoir Media
Variety: Jem Aswad
Reservoir Media has acquired a majority interest in the Miles Davis publishing catalog, as well as as well as other rights associated with the late jazz icon’s estate, including a partnership in name and likeness opportunities and certain rights to his recorded music, the company announced early Tuesday.
Musicians keep leaving Spotify in protest of CEO’s defense investments
npr: Isabella Gomez Sarmiento
It started in June with indie rock quartet Deerhoof. Within weeks, groups like Xiu Xiu, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Hotline TNT followed suit. The wave of departures continued into September; most recently, The Mynabirds, WU LYF, Kadhja Bonet and Young Widows have all decided to leave Spotify.
OFF THE BEATEN TRAIL
Ed Sheeran: Tiny Desk Concert
NPR: Bobby Carter
Featuring brand new songs from the album Play, plus an old favorite, watch Sheeran build the instrumental elements in real time with guitar, keyboard, and a looping station.
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