Live Music Exchange Digest – w/c 5th November 2012
Welcome to our weekly digest of live music news and events in industry, academia and more.
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This Week’s Blog Post
One from the Archives
Live Music News
Live Music Features
Live Music Exchange Events
Other Live Music-related Events
This Week’s Blog Post:
San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium: From ‘Dance-concerts’ to ‘Concerts’ – Steve Waksman
Steve Waksman, Associate Professor of Music and American Studies at Smith College, is the author of Instruments of Desire: The Electric Guitar and the Shaping of Musical Experience (Harvard University Press, 1999) and This Ain’t the Summer of Love: Conflict and Crossover in Heavy Metal and Punk (University of California Press, 2009).
He is currently researching the history of live music in the U.S. from the 19th century to the present and he looks here at how archival material about Bill Graham’s legendary Fillmore Auditorium illustrates changes and tensions in audience behaviour at rock concerts in the 1960s.
One from the Archives:
Get into live music – or not . . . Emma Webster
In the run-up our Live Music Exchange event in Cardiff, which includes a panel on skills and training, and how they may best be tailored to effectively serve the needs of both businesses and students, we revisit Emma Webster’s assessment of some of the resources available online and elsewhere to people hoping to make a career out of live music.
Live Music News:
Hurricane Sandy wreaks havoc on the East Coast of America, forcing numerous cancellations and postponements. Shows by major rock and pop acts, like the Smashing Pumpkins and Beyonce, are affected and Carnegie Hall is declared off-limits due to a damaged crane dangling overhead.
Bruce Springsteen, who also cancelled a concert due to the storm, leads a benefit broadcast for victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The cost to music businesses in lost profits will run into the millions, and Rolling Stone warns that the impact for smaller clubs may stretch into the long-term.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame building in Ohio is also damaged, although none of the artefacts are affected.
There is disruption to other concerts and tours as well:
Green Day have cancelled all commitments until March 2013 as front man Billie Joe Armstrong continues to receive treatment for substance abuse.
Grimes has pulled out of all of her European dates, citing health reasons. Country singer George Jones also cancelled dates due to illness.
Cat Power said that she may have to cancel European dates, due to ill health and bankruptcy, before stating that the tour would go ahead but that the stage show would be stripped back.
Three die in crowd surge at Madrid festival: Three women died at a performance by DJ Steve Akoi at the Thriller Music Park event. Promoters have denied that the venue was over capacity and said that the crush was caused by a flare being lit, leading to panic and a bottleneck around one exit. Police are investigating.
BlackBerry executive ‘murdered with broken bottle’ at Jessie J corporate gig: Telephone executive died after being slashed in the neck with a broken beer bottle at an event where singer Jessie J had been performing.
Opera singer Robert Poulton killed in car crash: Poulton, a baritone with the Glyndebourne Opera, has been killed in a car crash in Sussex. The singer had been due on stage at the Theatre Royal in Norwich on Wednesday in Dvorak’s Rusalka as part of the company’s 2012 tour. The performance had been cancelled out of respect to the singer’s family and colleagues.
Mitch Lucker, Suicide Silence Frontman, Dies in Motorcycle Crash: Frontman for the deathcore band Suicide Silence, died on Thursday of injuries in a Southern California motorcycle crash. He was 28.
The Stones show rolls on, with another secret gig and Paris and an announcement that they will be broadcasting one of their two New Jersey shows live on Sky Box Office in December.
In contrast to the high prices for Rolling Stones gigs, Bon Jovi announce that there will be tickets available for the forthcoming dates in the UK for £12.50.
Bon Jovi’s UK tour promoter Rob Hallett of AEG has unveiled a dynamic pricing system that he claims will make stadium tickets more “affordable” adding that, “Ordinary fans have been priced out of live music in recent years”.
Coldplay’s live DVD from their 2012 tour is to receive a one-night only screening in multiplex cinemas world-wide one week prior to its release.
Irish band turn down Chris Brown support slot over domestic abuse charge: The Original Rudeboys snub R&B singer over 2009 conviction.
“It was our Madison Square Garden”- Live Nation speak out about the decision to pull out of putting on more gigs at Hyde Park: Chief Operating Officer John Probyn said, “No promoter could go in and decently run a gig for more than we offered. I’m not prepared to go on as a loss maker.” He also told Access All Areas, “Royal Parks has ignored everything else and gone for the money and we’re really good at walking away when something makes no sense.”
O2 clubbing space uncertain as Proud2 company goes under: The business, a joint venture between the Proud Group and Dome operators AEG Live, seemingly went into administration after the Proud2 space temporarily lost its licence following a stabbing incident on 2 Sep.
Vince Power buys back Benicassim from administrators: Vince Power has bought back Spain’s Benicassim festival from the administrators of his former company, Music Festivals PLC.
Reading and Leeds festivals to add more stages in 2013: Reading and Leeds festivals may add up to three new stages, with organisers saying they want to “add more music” to the event in 2013.
Ticketweb relaunches website: TicketWeb has unveiled its redesigned TicketWeb.co.uk website supported by a new range of event management and ticketing tools.
Ticketmaster class action settlement rejected by court: Former Ticketmaster customers who had signed onto a class-action lawsuit against Ticketmaster for charging excessive processing and shipping fees will have to wait a little while longer to receive their compensation, after Los Angeles Superior Court judge Kenneth Freeman rejected a proposed settlement agreement between Ticketmaster and the class-action plaintiffs’ attorneys.
Kickstarter launches in the UK: Kickstarter, the crowd-funding platform famed for recently securing Amanda Palmer over $1.2million, has launched in the UK.
Name PR wins The Forum music venue account: Name PR is expanding its consumer portfolio as it takes on PR duties for music venue The Forum Hertfordshire, which opened in 2009 and has played host to a string of artists including Florence and the Machine, will.i.am, Ed Sheeran, Blondie, Professor Green, and Chase and Status.
The Awards season continues as Alt-J win the Mercury Prize, while Emeli Sandé wins a hat-trick at the MOBO awards in Liverpool and Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert dominate the Country Music Association awards in the USA.
Edwyn Collins is also honoured with an award for outstanding contribution to the music industry by the Association of Independent Music and the shortlist for the MG Alba Scots Traditional Music Awards has been announced.
Arts Council England to axe more than 100 jobs: Arts Council England is to axe 118 jobs – some 21% of its workforce – as part of a major restructure.
Local councils’ regular funding for arts down by 40%, says survey: Arts organisations across England and Wales are receiving 40% less regular funding from councils than last year, a recent report has claimed.
Arts Sector pushed closer to a private funding culture: Arts Council England’s latest funding stream will provide professional development for fundraising and capacity-building support for arts consortia.
Arts luminaries warn of threat to creative subjects in schools: A letter written by the Incorporated Society of Musicians and signed by leading figures from the arts is highly critical of proposals for the English Baccalaureate and calls on the Education Secretary to urgently rethink the omission of music, art, drama, dance and design and technology from the list of core subjects.
Sadler’s Wells boss says dance ‘under threat’: Chief executive and artistic director Alistair Spalding has also said that the proposed Baccalaureate will be damaging to the future of dance.
Concern voiced, also, about music education in Australia as 600,000 Australian children join music stars to sing a petition for music in schools.
Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation supports new generation: Andrew Lloyd Webber is donating more than £380,000 to arts education projects across the UK, through his philanthropic foundation.
Bournemouth’s ‘hated’ Imax building demolition timetable set: The site is to be transformed into a new public area hosting music concerts, markets and open-air performances due to open in June.
Worcester £10m art quarter planned: Plans are being drawn up for an arts quarter in Worcester which would include a concert venue and gallery.
Turbulent times for orchestras:
The dispute in Minnesota continues as The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has cancelled concerts to the end of the year in a pay dispute and the Minneapolis City Council calls on management and musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra to return to the bargaining table in their own disagreement.
Musicians in the Spokane Symphony Orchestra in Washington state are also going on strike amid an ongoing contract dispute although the Cleveland Orchestra musicians have ratified a new, three-year contract.
Tehran Symphony Orchestra at low note as financial stress stops play: Iran’s music veteran of almost 80 years could fall silent amid conservative suspicion, protests and west’s sanctions.
Classical composer channels The Who by smashing cello and violin on stage: Johannes Kreidler brought a dose of punk rebellion to the classical world last week, smashing a violin and a cello in protest at the merger between Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Gang attack blamed on Russia’s ban on ‘gay propaganda’: Assault in Moscow club heightens concern as rights groups accuse police of tolerating attacks.
Polish singer faces two years in jail over Bible-tearing stunt: Poland’s supreme court rules that Behemoth’s Adam Darski ‘offended religious feelings’ by ripping up a Bible on stage.
Different approaches to Pussy Riot as Russian Prime Minister says, ‘Pussy Riot are unpleasant – but they shouldn’t have been sent to prison’ while South Park features Jesus wearing a t-shirt in support of the band in an episode mocking slogans and cause celebres.
Israeli arrests after lighting rig collapse in Jerusalem: Judges in Jerusalem have extended the detention of four people arrested on suspicion of involvement in the collapse of a lighting rig at Mount Herzl in Israel, which killed a woman soldier and injured seven others.
Thriller Live launches ‘academy’ for young Michael Jacksons: Producers of West End production Thriller Live have announced they are to launch an ‘academy’ to train up young male performers to appear in the show.
Kurt Cobain: The Musical? I’ll never let it happen, says Courtney Love: Nirvana singer’s widow scotches Broadway show rumour.
The Undertones distance themselves from musical ‘Teenage Kicks’: Band not involved with Derry production based on their songs and set to open next year.
Angela’s Ashes musical premiered at Derby Theatre: A musical version of classic Irish book Angela’s Ashes has had its premiere after being adapted by a University of Derby graduate.
Glasgow girls’ protest inspires musical: Seven schoolgirls who led a campaign against dawn raids on asylum seekers are the inspiration for a new musical from the National Theatre of Scotland.
Peter Frampton To Unveil New Music in Ballet Project: Rock veteran says he’s “scared stiff” of his collaboration with the Cincinnati Ballet.
Wikipedia-inspired opera containing graphic sexual description to make London debut: A controversial new opera featuring graphic descriptions of sex will make its debut in two weeks’ time at a London church venue.
Gustav Holst ‘rare’ composition to be performed in Cheltenham: A piece of music by composer Gustav Holst, which was “lost” for half a century, is to be performed in the town of his birth, Cheltenham.
Gary Barlow to perform gig in Chris Evans’s Surrey pub: Take That’s Gary Barlow has signed up to play a gig in the Surrey pub owned by DJ Chris Evans to raise money for BBC Children in Need.
And finally:
Pete Townshend leaves during encore at Who Tour kickoff: Guitarist walks off at Florida show without telling bandmates after complaining that stage sound is ‘too loud’.
Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger reveals he paid drum technician to stick his penis in electric fan.
The power of history: While our guest blogger Steve Waksman looks at the history of behaviour at rock concerts, critic Greg Sandow examines the evolution of applause at classical concerts, and the disappearance of clapping between movements.
After the Flood – Hurricane Sandy’s Impact on the Music Business: Billboard’s in-depth examination of the effect of the storm.
Taking Electronic Dance Music to College Campuses and Clubs: The New York Times follows DJ and producer Richie Hawtin’s tour, which during the day visits college campuses for discussions about the past and present of electronic dance music and at night goes to clubs to show the music in action.
Can indie rock save musical theatre?: J. Kelly Nestruck looks at the crossovers between Canada’s indie rock and theatre communities.
Opera North opens Pandora’s Box: The Guardian‘s ‘Northerner Blog’ speaks to musicians from the North of England and from Iceland as they collaborate to bring a new score to the classic silent film.
Britain’s creative edge is at risk: Arts are vital to the UK economy. To downgrade their status in schools shows a dangerous lack of imagination. Nicholas Serota queries the wisdom of the proposed revisions to the GCSE.
Catalyst for change?: Simon Tait takes a critical look at the governmental push towards philanthropy as a means of support for the the arts.
How America’s music stars are voting with their voices this election: A pop star’s endorsement is still a valuable commodity in the US presidential race –but this time around the artists aren’t so enthusiastic. Chris Mugan asks why they went quiet and Maura Johnston asks what a Mitt Romney victory might mean for popular music.
The BBC talks to Soosan Firooz, Afgahnistan’s first female rapper.
Live Music Exchange, Cardiff
Saturday 10th November 2012
ATRiuM, University of Glamorgan, Cardiff
A conference with a difference, the Live Music Exchange gathers together leading academics with people working directly (and indirectly) with live music, to exchange ideas about how to encourage and assist a vibrant and sustainable live music ecology.
Panels on: Live music policy, skills & training and more, plus round-table discussions.
Keynote Speaker: Professor George McKay (Professor of Cultural Studies, University of Salford and AHRC Leadership Fellow, Connected Communities Programme)
Panellists include: Fiona Stewart (Green Man Festival), Huw Williams (The Pooh Sticks), Lisa Matthews (Arts Council Wales), John Rostron (Welsh Music Foundation), and many more.
See here for the latest programme.
Please get in touch with contact@livemusicexchange.org for further details.
Other Live Music-related Events:
Green Events Europe Conference: November 5th – November 6th, Wissenschaftszentrum, Bonn
Federation of Entertainment Unions – Free workshops on ‘Marketing Your Work’:
Colchester: November 6th, 10am-4.30pm, Mercury Theatre, Blakebourne Gardens
Newcastle: November 9th, 10am-4.30pm, Dance City, Temple Street.
Cult Cymru – New Creative Industries Safety Passport – 1 Day Course: A one day health & safety course designed specifically for workers, employed or freelance, working in film, TV, theatre and live events. It promotes a safety culture based on personal responsibility for safety. This means that it encourages delegates to be pro-active in their own safety and the safety of others.
Ty Oldfield, Llantrisant Rd, Cardiff. November 10th, 9am – 5pm.
Free Social Media Training Event from Cult Cymru/Bectu: A three-hour session that could change the way you work. Emma Meese, event trainer, regularly used Social Media as a newsgathering tool in her role as Social Media Producer for BBC Wales and found her current job at Cardiff University’s School of Journalism on Twitter.
Wrexham: Monday 12th November, 14.00 – 17.00: Catrin Finch Centre, Glyndwr University, Wrexham
Llandudno: Tuesday 13th November, 09:30 – 12.30: Padarn Room, Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Bangor: Tuesday 13th November, 18.00 – 21.00: Room D2:07, Management Centre, Bangor
Aberystwyth: Wednesday 14th November, 13.30 – 16.30: Seminar Room 1, Theatre, Film and TV Studies, Parry-Williams Building, Aberystwyth University
The Musicians’ Union and the International Guitar Festival – free industry seminars: The MU is working with the International Guitar Festival to host free industry seminars. Includes panels on ‘The Working Musician’ and ‘The Live Music Industry’. Saturday 17th November 2012 at the Floral Pavilion (Wirral), the venue that will also be hosting many of the festival’s shows.
The Association of Festival Organisers Conference 2012 is to be held between Friday 16 November to Sunday 18 November 2012 in Eastwood, Nottingham.
Generator’s Music Futures Conference: Live Theatre, Broad Chair, Newcastle, Thursday 22nd November, 10am – 6pm. Includes Alison Wenham, Jeannette Lee and Tony Wadsworth In Conversation.
Association of British Orchestras – Introduction to Marketing: This course is suitable for people who are expected to ‘do’ marketing as part of their job, but haven’t received any formal training, for those who want to get into marketing and for those who are currently doing it and want a better grasp of the bigger picture.
27th November, 10am – 5.30pm. 32 Rose Street, London WC2E 9ET
Festival Awards UK 2012 at the Roundhouse, London, on Monday 3rd December 2012. Voting now open.
Royal Musical Association Research Students’ Conference: Call for papers and works. Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th January 2013, University of Southampton.
Rhythm Changes Jazz Research Seminar will be held on Friday 8th February, 4-6pm at the University of Salford.
The Clore Leadership Programme – Emerging Leaders Course. Sunday 17th – Friday 22nd March 2013 at Craxton Wood Hotel, Chester.
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