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Art

Artists, take note: When in doubt about how to price your work, go high. /// In Greece, a sketchbook has been found which may have belonged to Vincent van Gogh himself. /// The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has just received a $10 million gift from one of its trustees. The funds will go toward "contemporary art programs and acquisitions." /// Michelangelo's "David" might be moved from its location in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, Italy, to another site in the city. The statue's been in the same spot since 1873.

Books

Texas State University gets the Cormac McCarthy archive. /// The American Booksellers Association has reported that 115 new independent bookstores opened throughout the U.S. in 2007. /// Is the next "Harry Potter" on the come-up? /// Tom Cruise is attacking Andrew Morton, author of "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography" (St. Martin's Press). The book alleges, among other things, that Cruise is "second in command" in the Church of Scientology, and that his daughter, Suri, was conceived "using frozen sperm from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard." Cruise's lawyer says the book is "absolutely loaded with false statements." The Church of Scientology has called the book "a bigoted, defamatory assault replete with lies."

Film

Eh? New study suggests that violent movies may DECREASE crime. /// Variety releases it annual selection of "10 Directors to Watch" this year. /// After just 5 days of talks, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) has sealed a deal for the renegotiation of their contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The deal includes an agreement to double the royalty rate paid to directors for content streamed on the Web. Meanwhile, the war of attrition between screenwriters and the AMPTP continues to drag on.

Music

A better way to purchase music? Sony BMG- the last of the Big Four record companies to fully commit to selling DRM-free tracks - has launched "Platinum MusicPass." /// In response to complaints from several of its major artists, EMI - the first of the Big Four to commit to DRM-free tracks - is now restructuring its business in order to compete more effectively in the "new music economy" (and to placate its worried investors). Over the next 6 months, EMI will lay off 1,500-2,000 employees and devote more assets toward artist development. /// AEG Live - promoter for the Coachella Festival - plans to create a new music festival at Liberty State Park, just across the river from lower Manhattan. /// Victory Records has initiated a lawsuit against EMI, alleging that the record giant - through its subsidiary, Virgin - wrongfully attempted to "poach" the band Hawthorne Heights from Victory Records' roster. /// Greg Kot at the Chicago Tribune describes the latest proposed solution to the record industry's woes - "the digital tax."