Rampell claims that American Public Media failed to seek alternate buyers or determine whether the $21.7 million sale price was fair. He also claims that American Public Media counsel Sylvia Strobe threatened board members with removal or lawsuits if they interfered with the sale. Half of the 14-member board resigned shortly before the meeting where the sale was narrowly approved.
Houston Public Media is putting classical music radio station KUHA up for sale. Houston Public Media will continue to broadcast classical music through their HD radio subchannel and through online streaming.
As part of a $5 million gift from Alexander Dreyfoos, the Kravis Center is installing a Marshall and Ogletree digital organ. The organ will receive its debut with the Jacksonville Symphony, and Cameron Carpenter at the keyboard, on March 9, 2016.
In just seven months, Universal Pictures has broken the record for the highest annual global ticket sales. Universal has already grossed $5.53 billion this year, breaking records set by Fox ($5.52 billion in 2014) and Paramount Pictures ($5.17 billion in 2011).
The AFM is suing Atlantic Recording, Hollywood Records, Sony Music, Universal Music, and Warner Bros. Records for failure to abide by their negotiated contracts. The AFM claims that the labels failed to make required payments to the pension fund for foreign audio stream and foreign and domestic ringback revenue. The failure to make payments was discovered by auditors last year.
The Atlanta Symphony ended the 2014-15 season with a surplus. Additionally, the Symphony has already raised $13.3 million of the $25 million goal for their ASO Musicians Endowment Campaign.
The Oregon Symphony set new records during their 2014-15 season. Ticket sales were up four percent over the previous year, and 18 percent over the last five years. Nearly a quarter of their concerts were sold out, and 2,300 new donors contributed to an all-time high of $7 million in contributions.
The Atlanta Ballet earned $3.1 million in box office sales in 2014-15, breaking box office records for a second straight year. Contributed income increased $1 million to $4.1 million, and the ballet ended the season with a balanced budget.
The Nashville Symphony set ticket sale and fundraising records for the second straight year. The Symphony sold $9 million in tickets, and attendance rose two percent, to 79 percent. Fundraising was up 12 percent, to $6.7 million.
Palm Beach Opera has welcomed Peter Hoffman, William Brown, Myson Chefetz, and Nathan Leventhal to its board of directors. Hoffman, who has been active with the New York City Opera and was a partner of the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche LLP, will serve as secretary/treasurer.