Local and Industry News

A study by the University of Montreal has found that musicians have significantly faster reaction times than non-musicians.

The study, which involved clicking a mouse whenever a participant sensed a vibration or noise, found that those with long-term musical training performed an average of 30 percent better than those without.

Philanthropist Rita Stein has passed away at age 88. Stein, a resident of Florida since 1979, was a supporter of the Miami City Ballet, the Kravis Center, Palm Beach Opera, and the Florida Philharmonic, among other organizations.

recording

The AFM has reached a new agreement with the recording industry. The new three-year agreement covering sound recordings, which is subject to ratification by musicians, would increase wages by three percent per year as well as increase pension and healthcase contributions. The new agreement also includes new funding for the Special Payments Fund and the Music Performance trust Fund from interactive streaming media revenue, as well as guaranteed annual payments to the AFM and Employers Pension Fund from streaming.

Charter Communications customers in 37 markets can no longer view Univision due to a dispute between the two companies. Univision believes their distribution agreement should be renegotiated due to Charter's acquisition of Time Warner Cable last year, while Charter believes their existing agreement should be honored.

Coral Gables-based ad agency Zubi Advertising Services has been aqcuired by the Michigan-based global advertising firm GTB. Zubi focuses on the Hispanic market and its clients include Dunkin Donuts, Ford, and J.P. Morgan Chase.

symphonic

Opera Naples may have a new home on Bayshore Drive in East Naples. The 17-acre site, which was bought by the county redevelopment agency in 2006 for $4.6 million, has been put up for bid after two developers made offers to build an opera house. Both proposals would include an opera house of 850 to 1000 seats, at a cost of $50 million, in addition to stores and restaurants and a park on the property.

The Amon G. Carter Foundation has announced a $1.5 million challenge grant for the Fort Worth Symphony. The Foundation will match contributions of up to $10,000 per year from donors who pledge to support the Symphony at the same or higher levels for three years. The Foundation will match up to $500,000 per year for each of the three years.

The Jacksonville Symphony has ratified a new five-year agreement, eight months prior to the expiration of the current agreement. The new agreement raises the weekly salary by 17.5 percent over the five years, increases the season length from 35 weeks to 40 weeks in year four, and increases the number of full-time positions from 53 to 60.

The Detroit Symphony has ratified a new three-year agreement, nearly eight months prior to the expiration of their current agreement. The new contract raises wages by two percent in year two and again in year three, increases the season length from 40 weeks to 42 weeks, and includes a stipend in the non-work weeks in lieu of musicians filing for unemployment benefits.

The Orlando Philharmonic and Opera Orlando have formed a partnership. Philharmonic musicians will play Opera Orlando performances, and the leaders of the organizations will consult on creative decisions. The Philharmonic began performing concert versions of operas after the opera company went out of business in 2010. Now that an opera company has returned to Orlando, the Philharmonic did not want to appear to be competing but rather wants both organizations to thrive.