"The possible choice for the opening ceremony of Aya Nakamura, a superstar French-Malian singer whose slang-spiced lyrics stand at some distance from academic French, has ignited a furor tinged with issues of race and linguistic propriety and the politics of immigration." - The New York Times
Subscription streaming revenues grew by 11.2% YoY last year, accounting for 48.9% of the global market, which in dollar terms, means that subscription streaming revenues reached $14 billion in 2023. - Music Business Worldwide
"The report contained personal accounts that showed not only that inequality is still pervasive in the world of classical music, but that women are enduring an unacceptable level of sexual abuse and harassment, often being silenced with non-disclosure agreements to protect those in power." - The Guardian
Yes, his various Passions are common right now - but he’s everywhere, all of the time. And “indirectly, we are also indebted to Bach for the ability to attend public concerts." - El País (English)
Meanwhile, “events at cultural institutions were canceled, flags were lowered to half-staff and television entertainment and advertising were suspended,” and relatives waited for word to come about injuries - or death. - Boston Globe (AP)
Truly, so-called generative AI isn’t there yet on the composing side. “I’ve played the basic chord progression from 'Soul Of The Machine' — and variations of it —countless times. So, when I say that the chords meander in nonsensical ways, it’s because I’ve also wandered in this style.” - The Verge
According to the data, 1,250 artists generated over $1 million each in recording and publishing royalties in 2023; 11,600 generated over $100,000 and 66,000 generated over $10,000 — numbers that have almost tripled since 2017. - AP
In Los Angeles, 11 technicians work long hours repairing 6,000 public school instruments a year. "One of the last programs of its kind in the U.S., it has struggled to stay afloat over the years. But now, thanks to the Oscar-winning documentary short The Last Repair Shop, donations are pouring in." - CBC
A Danish man has been sentenced to prison in a “historic” case after being found guilty of fraudulently profiting from royalties on hundreds of tracks on music streaming sites. - The Guardian
“We are devastated by this decision, which we believe is a fundamentally regressive move for the college, the choral community in Cambridge, and the wider arts provision for women in the UK.” - The Guardian
The report points out – with some perspicacity – that there is a view throughout the industry that whilst opera is an expensive art form, there are ways of producing first-class work that do not indulge in the expensive elements in quite the same way. - The Telegraph (UK)
"Few details were available on the initiative, which picks up on the joint venture that brought Charlie Parker’s Yardbird and We Shall Not Be Moved to the stages of both companies. No commissioned composers have yet been announced for this round of the partnership." - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
"Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday signed off on legislation designed to protect songwriters, performers and other music industry professionals against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. … Supporters say the goal is to ensure that AI tools cannot replicate an artist’s voice without their consent." - AP
Johan Röhr is behind over 2,700 songs that have been released under various fake artist names on Spotify. His music across all of these pseudonymous artist accounts on Spotify, according to DN, has been streamed approximately 15 billion times. - Music Business Worldwide
The American Youth Symphony, which shut down on Friday, is — or rather was — one of the few large national organizations involved in the vital transition between studying and starting a career in music. - San Francisco Classical Voice
