The Japanese bamboo flute is familiar to audiences who play video games and watch Japanese movies. "It is the sound of the earth. … The sound of the wind passing through a bamboo forest. It’s a sound that is constantly shifting tone colors, like light passing in the sky." - Boston Globe
Portugal's song tied for last, but coup planners needed a signal on the radio. The first song suggested was censored, and too obvious. So the coup organizer "suggested that the announcer choose ... 'some banality' that would not raise any eyebrows. That choice was 'E Depois do Adeus.’” - The Observer (UK)
There are now 26 million videos on YouTube and TikTok videos featuring Epidemic Sound music, and the company reports that its tracks receive 40 million plays daily on music streaming platforms. - Music Business Worldwide
With the introduction of the stand-alone audiobooks offering, Spotify is now able to pay lower music-licensing rates for the music-and-audiobook bundle, introduced in the U.S. in November 2023. - Variety
"The New York Philharmonic, which has been facing an uproar since a recent magazine article detailed allegations of misconduct against two players it tried and failed to fire in 2018, said on Thursday that it was commissioning an outside investigation into its culture." - The New York Times
Although specific events are not yet planned, in his role as artistic ambassador, Kellogg will engage with opera audiences through post-show Q&As, panel discussions, podcasts and other community events. - Seattle Times
"I will truly believe you mean your support and sympathy when I stop seeing ads featuring these people as star attractions at your concerts; when you offer the same protections and sympathy to victims of your own institutions that you do to victims of others (hello, Curtis Institute of Music!)." - Anne Midgette
Cellist and composer Niles Luther, 27, "is kicking off his residency by composing three musical arrangements to accompany the exhibition 'Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo' (feat. Takashi Murakami), which opened today." - Forbes
The funding received from Arts Council England (ACE) was cut by 35%, which led to WNO performances in Liverpool being cancelled in 2022, while operas in other English cities went ahead as planned. - BBC
The bank said more than 600 of its customers had come forward to report being scammed, losing an average of £332 each - with some losing £1,000. It added that 90% of the reported ticket scams started on Facebook. - BBC
Although streaming remains the dominant music format, physical media has been a growing niche where the industry can cater to so-called superfans, who express their dedication to artists by shelling out big bucks for collectible versions of new releases, sometimes in multiple quantities. - The New York Times
The current superintendent of La Fenice in Venice, Fortunato Ortombina, will take over in Milan this September. For the first year, he will work alongside outgoing La Scala superintendent Dominique Meyer, who departs in August 2025. Music director Riccardo Chailly will remain until 2026. - AFP (Yahoo!)
The company saw reduced support from the Arts Council of Wales and lost all funding from Arts Council England, which helped pay for tours to several English cities. Planned runs next year in Bristol (England) and Llandudno (Wales) have been called off, as has one production in Cardiff. - BBC
Bell has announced the extension of his tenure as music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) through to August 2028. He began the role in 2011, after first working with Neville Marriner and the ASMF in 1986 as a 19-year-old soloist. - The Strad
