Drew McManus on the orchestra business.
There’s an article in today’s Detroit Free Press by Frank Provenzano and Mark Stryker about a plan in Michigan to introduce a new tax that would raise and distribute funds to arts groups across the state. According to the article the legislation being introduced by state Sen. Shirley Johnson: ” calls for a 5-percent statewide tax on tickets to college and professional sports and many arts and entertainment events, including rock …
Back in November I published a four part series of articles focusing on a group of orchestras that are in the process of building new concert halls. One of the points the study concentrated on was how well each orchestra’s management was communicating with and involving the musicians in the design and construction process. The final article in the study allowed musicians from each orchestra to voice their opinions on this …
Lynn Sislo maintains a cultural blog entitled Reflections In D Minor and she recently posted a good idea for record companies to help attract and create further interest in new listeners. The article is entitled “Marketing Classical Music: An Opportunity Ignored”, here’s an excerpt where Lynn identifies the problem: First, I’m looking at a CD titled “Classical Favorites”. It’s not totally bad. The first track is the William Tell Overture, complete. …
In Australia, the federal government recently began an audit to determine the financial viability and assess the board governance of their six state symphony and two pit orchestras. Furthermore, the audit will consider how the Australian government and orchestral groups can improve their relationship to ensure the long-term sustainability of Australia’s orchestras. This decision comes after several of their orchestras declared large operating deficits following a long period of financial health. …
I have an article published at The Partial Observer today that deals with the issue of video game music. On May 10th, the L.A. Philharmonic gave a performance featuring music from the video game “Final Fantasy” and tickets sold out with three days of going on sale. But the concert wasn’t their idea; the orchestra was hired, reluctantly, by the company that designed the video game. Fellow AJblogger Greg Sandow published …