New technologies emerged. At first this development seemed positive. There were new programs on the radio and television. More people heard music through the new technologies than ever before. Certain musicians proved to be very good teachers within the new mediums. Many people were inspired. Radio and television offered new ways to experience extraordinary events and entertainment. They were fun and they felt freer than the traditional entertainment formats. As those technologies matured, each venue of delivery, called stations or channels, … [Read more...]

Part 2 of 6 Time passed. The cost of the concerts grew. This was, in part, due to the professionalization of management. There were larger staffs with specialists in fundraising, marketing and administration. The musicians cost more too. They were increasingly of a new, educated class. Many had two and even three degrees. The season grew to encompass a much larger part of the year. The artistic level of the musicians rose dramatically. The musicians, quite rightly, expected a living wage for the commitment of time and the expectation of … [Read more...]

Part 1 of 6 Once upon a time in America, there were concerts. People went to them and then went home. In between those two activities they listened to great music. That was the whole point. It was a total experience inside the concert hall, complete in and of itself. These concerts needed organizational structures to become stable. They needed administrators, volunteers, conductors, guest artists and a predictable roster of musicians. The people who produced the concerts explored different ways of organizing themselves. There were many … [Read more...]