Art

Fourth quarter profits shot up 46% for Sotheby's, one the world's largest art sellers. /// Austin's new Long Center for the Performing Arts will hold its "Sneak Peek Weekend" from March 6 until 9. For the event schedule, go here. /// A ranking of the world's top art exhibits of 2007.

Books

Recent figures show that international authors Khaled Hosseini and James Patterson were the highest selling "global" writers last month (in the English-speaking world). /// In an attempt to boost sales, Random House Publishing - one of the world's largest sources of audiobooks - will begin publishing audiobooks without DRM encryption protection. /// At a school in Berlin, 8th-graders are being taught about the Holocaust through a very unique textbook - a comic book.

Film

According to the L.A. Times, Hollywood filmmakers are becoming increasingly respectful of source novels when making novel-based films. /// Members of the Writers' Guild have overwhelmingly approved the proposed contract with film studios that will increase their share of profits from shows broadcast over the Web. /// Ugh....we are so sick of writing about this: It looks like another Hollywood strike may start soon...this time it's the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

Music

North Korea has invited Eric Clapton to play there in 2009. While many Western classical acts have played there over the past few years, this marks a major turning point for North Korea, whose government has traditionally banned rock and pop music. /// iTunes Music Store - the dominant online music store since its founding in 2003 with an average 70% market share - has just fallen to number two in album sales behind Wal-Mart. Note: This ranking is for album sales. iTunes is still the global playground bully in single track purchasing. /// The Sasquatch! Music Festival - which takes place during late May in Quincy, Washington - has just finalized its artist lineup. /// Interesting synopsis of a music industry conference held in New York last Tuesday, in which one former EMI executive said proclaimed that "Music 1.0 is dead."