Arts & Entertainment: Industry News
Art
The arts writer at the Wall Street Journal is mad as hell about the state of art writing, and he's not going to take it anymore! /// Three Broadway shows are now scheduled to play at Austin's Long Center in 2008: The Drowsy Chaperone, A Bronx Tale, and Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy. /// Apertura, the Austin Museum of Art's new addition at Laguna Gloria Art Museum, opens tomorrow. The opening is free and open to the public.
Books
"Why We Left Islam," a book allegedly full of "first-person stories of former radicals who began to question the Koran, Islam's holy book, and who have changed their lives," is on the way to bookstores. This one's sure to piss a whole lot of people off, especially since the book's cover portrays a painting of the prophet Muhammad....ripped in half. /// An author for Lonely Planet, the popular worldwide travel guides, claims he made a bunch of things up. As a result, the travel publishing world has launched a giant gang tackle against the company. /// Domy Books, based out of Houston, plans to open a second store here in Austin. The store will act in a dual capacity: art gallery & bookstore.
Film
SAG and Hollywood producers continue their negotiations on "increased residuals for DVD/home video and a bigger cut in new media." /// New York's Tribeca Film Festival starts next Wednesday. Here's the schedule and an N.Y. Times piece describing this year's festival climate. /// NBC Universal has announced that it's "reforming" its digital studio to focus more on "branded programming." Intel, Microsoft, UPS and Acura TSX are the participating sponsors.
Music
Here's an article claiming that, as aging mega-acts approach retirement, the concert industry will experience a "bubble burst." /// Capitol Records CEO explains why 360 deals are good for his company. Artists, take note. /// Universal Music Group has just invested in Buzznet, the social media company that owns the blogs Stereogum and Idolator. This may not be the best idea, given the sensitivity of music bloggers to big label control.
