Founded in 1984 in Sydney, The Song Company, which consisted of six to eight singers, regularly performed music ranging from the Middle Ages and Renaissance through the Romantic era up to newly-commissioned works. The ensemble went into receivership in 2019 due to financial difficulties; now it has filed for liquidation. - Limelight (Australia)
“Lalovavi” launches Cincinnati Opera’s Black Opera Project, a $6 million three-opera endeavor. The first of its kind, the project aims to tell Black American stories of resilience and joy, written and composed by Black creators. Three new works – one each season – will provide increased opportunities for cast members and artistic teams of color. - Cincinnati Business Journal
Victor DeRenzi: “In the last few years, I had begun to realize that I could not develop an artistic future for the opera with the current board. Budgets were approved late, sometimes less than six months before the new fiscal year began." - Sarasota Herald-Tribune (MSN)
Austin Chanu, a 33-year-old Brazilian-American and a former assistant conductor at the Philadelphia Orchestra, succeeds Lawrence Loh, whose 10-year tenure ended in May 2025. The Syracuse Orchestra is the musician-led co-operative ensemble formed after the Syracuse Symphony folded in 2011. - The Post-Standard (Syracuse)
David Israelite said the Udio agreement is the first industry-wide licensing deal struck with a major AI music company, and the first to “value songs and sound recordings equally” when it comes to AI training. - Music Business Worldwide
Womad in Glasgow “is the 20th casualty so far this year as small and independent festival operators enter another tough summer facing myriad challenges, from belt-tightening consumers becoming more picky about how they spend their cash, to soaring energy and labour costs.” - The Guardian (UK)
There’s a new way to distract oneself while donating blood - to play immersive virtual reality games. And the games's soundtracks? “Abbott commissioned the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ... to record them in a whirlwind, one-day recording session in the spring.” - The New York Times
Renell Shaw: “Our story is of growth, and it’s a love story, too. I mean, my grandmother came over here from Jamaica looking for work, and my grandfather came over to chase my grandmother!” - The Guardian (UK)
On May 14, almost exactly 43 years later, Michael Jackson's Billie Jean was No. 1 again, prancing to the top of Spotify’s global chart following the release of the biopic “Michael.” - The Wall Street Journal
On Thursday an update to the Spotify iOS app switched the icon back to the well-known logo users are familiar with. That did away with the glowing green mirrorball icon for the Spotify app for Apple devices that it introduced the second week of May. - Variety
“The Washington National Opera (WNO) filed a lawsuit Thursday, alleging that the Kennedy Center failed to return more than $17 million in donations made to the organization after its split from the venue earlier this year.” - The Hill
“The renewal will give Honeck a 25-year tenure with the orchestra, making him the longest-serving music director in the Pittsburgh Symphony’s 131-year history. Honeck, who began his tenure in the 2008/09 season, has overseen a period of significant artistic growth and international visibility for the orchestra.” - Moto Perpetuo
Chad Smith: “I can see that it was an abrupt announcement externally. It didn’t represent abrupt decision-making, though. It was a very considered conversation that has been going on for some time. … Our intention was to have a joint statement, but that wasn’t agreed to.” - The New York Times
The imprint, which will operate within Sony Music, Levit’s longtime label, is called No Silence, and will feature artists other than Levit himself. Among the first three releases, available in October, will be a complete 16-hour performance of Satie’s Vexations. - Gramophone
The chain is partnering with live entertainment company Arena One to bring new technology to theaters. This tech would allow artists on a remote stage to see, hear and respond to the theater audience, in effect turning your local cinema into a stadium, the companies said. - Los Angeles Times
