The unimportant news thread

[Florestan]

I don't know where to put this as it's certainly important (moderators plus feel free to move it):  Russia expels European diplomats over Navalny protests

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55954162

Russia is a dictatorship in all but name -- a regime far worse than the Tsarist one.

[Brahmsian]

Rush Limbaugh, dead at age 70.

[DavidW]

Sennheiser is looking to move away from consumer audio and are looking for either a partner or to sell that division.  They are throwing in the towel and will focus on professional audio.

[drogulus]

     That's it, I sold CenterPoint Energy. It's been "frozen" for a decade at least.

[DavidW]

Spotify Hifi is coming later this year.  Soon you will have lossless audio with the streaming service that has the deepest catalogue.

[BWV 1080]

Spotify Hifi is coming later this year.  Soon you will have lossless audio with the streaming service that has the deepest catalogue.

So musicians can get ripped off in high def. Already got that on idagio, and at least they pay musicians by time, not per track

https://blog.idagio.com/the-fair-artist-payout-model-what-is-it-and-why-should-you-care-9aadaf253b1c

[T. D.]

https://sports.yahoo.com/artemi-panarin-takes-leave-from-rangers-after-concerning-allegations-surface-from-russian-outlet-164021061.html

Complex story. Big Russian hockey star playing in NHL speaks out for Navalny / against Putin, then has to face nasty (trumped-up?) allegations about his past.
Don't know enough to have an opinion, but the political stance definitely required courage. Dude's family is still in Russia, and getting poisoned is presumably no fun.

[DavidW]

So musicians can get ripped off in high def. Already got that on idagio, and at least they pay musicians by time, not per track

https://blog.idagio.com/the-fair-artist-payout-model-what-is-it-and-why-should-you-care-9aadaf253b1c

Agreed.  Primephonic is the same (paying by time).  I unfortunately don't know what Qobuz's model is.  I did decide that if I like a recording and listen to it several times I will buy the cd new or a digital download to support the artist.  I didn't actually know how bad Spotify was for this for way too long.

[BWV 1080]

Agreed.  Primephonic is the same (paying by time).  I unfortunately don't know what Qobuz's model is.  I did decide that if I like a recording and listen to it several times I will buy the cd new or a digital download to support the artist.  I didn't actually know how bad Spotify was for this for way too long.

Sad thing is Spotify still loses money.  Its f***ed up that the movie studios figured out how to monetize their catalogs whereas the music industry just destroyed itself

[Karl Henning]

Aye.

[DavidW]

David Hurwitz posted a video today talking about record labels.  I was groggy when I watched it but it seems like he was saying that many labels use the Naxos model now of providing the performers with a one time payment.  And the performers want to do recordings more for the name recognition.  Do y'all know if there is truth to that?  I might have also misheard or misunderstood him, I was watching it with my morning coffee.

[Brahmsian]

David Hurwitz posted a video today talking about record labels.  I was groggy when I watched it but it seems like he was saying that many labels use the Naxos model now of providing the performers with a one time payment.  And the performers want to do recordings more for the name recognition.  Do y'all know if there is truth to that?  I might have also misheard or misunderstood him, I was watching it with my morning coffee.

I listened to it as well, David. Although it definitely applied to Naxos in their earlier days, I wonder if that model is still holding true for them?

[BWV 1080]

David Hurwitz posted a video today talking about record labels.  I was groggy when I watched it but it seems like he was saying that many labels use the Naxos model now of providing the performers with a one time payment.  And the performers want to do recordings more for the name recognition.  Do y'all know if there is truth to that?  I might have also misheard or misunderstood him, I was watching it with my morning coffee.

Read somewhere that performers are now expected to pay the label, as the prospects for any financial return are so low

[Todd]

37 days.

[Brian]

Read somewhere that performers are now expected to pay the label, as the prospects for any financial return are so low

This is explicitly the case at labels like MSR Classics, which has a whole page on its website telling you what you'll get for your payment.

I think I remember a story from the 1990s Naxos where a composer was attending recording sessions of his orchestral music, and Naxos had paid the orchestra a flat fee of just $1,000 to make the CD. The composer felt for the musicians so much that he ordered in like 40 pizzas for everyone.

[SimonNZ]

37 days.

"Day 37", 2017:

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2017/02/25/Day-37/

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Very sorry to hear this news.  Wonder what they will do with it?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/picassos-anti-war-guernica-tapestry-removed-from-un-headquarters/ar-BB1e1Krp

PD

[steve ridgway]

Shame, it's a very powerful image. I'm always reminded of it by Aleister Crowley's Tarot card "The Tower". Which is not one you hope will come up!

[MusicTurner]

According to a Cambridge University survey, the Bitcoin system is now using 0.6 % of the world's total electricity production, equal to say Sweden's consumption level.

https://cbeci.org/

[Pohjolas Daughter]

According to a Cambridge University survey, the Bitcoin system is now using 0.6 % of the world's total electricity production, equal to say Sweden's consumption level.

https://cbeci.org/

Wow!  I had heard a news story the other day about the amount of energy it took for all of the "Thank you" emails that are sent.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/reduce-your-carbon-footprint-dont-send-thank-you-emails