Local and Industry News

The National Labor Relations Board has issued a second complaint against the Kravis Center in a case dating back to 2001.

In 2001 and again in 2010, the Kravis Center failed to bargain in good faith with IATSE, declaring impasse and imposing a contract on stagehands that replaced the core employees with nonunion workers. The NLRB has calculated that the Center owes $2.6 million in back pay and benefits, and interest is continuing to accrue on this amount. A hearing on the back pay amount and the second complaint over the Center's alleged violation of labor law will be held in October.

Repairs to the Arsht Center after the May flooding from a failed drainage system are estimated to cost $3.8 million. It is hoped that repairs will be completed by October, in time for the start of the 2012-13 season. The insurance deductible on the center is $5 million, so funding from the repairs will most likely come from Miami-Dade County, however the county has also engaged a forensic engineering company and is looking into whether the damage was caused by faulty materials, design, or construction. 

recording

According to a report by Strategy Analytics, digital sales are poised to overtake physical sales of recordings, with streaming services leading the way. While physical sales currently account for 61 percent of sales, digital sales are set to overtake physical sales by 2015. Physical sales have declined 12 percent globally, and digital sales have continued to rise, with downloads increasing by 8.5 percent and streaming music increasing by 40 percent globally.

Seraphic Fire has announced a distribution deal with Naxos. All of their nine albums and all future releases will now be distributed internationally by Naxos. The Grammy-nominated choir will release its next album, a second Christmas CD, in November.

The WIPO Treaty has been signed by 122 countries after a six-day conference in China. The treaty, which will take effect when it has been ratified by at least 30 signing members, will provide a legal framework to allow performers to receive compensation for the use of their work and control the use of their images and likenesses.

symphonic

The International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary at its annual conference, held this year in its birthplace of Chicago. Founded in 1962, the mission of ICSOM is to promote a better and more rewarding livelihood for the skilled orchestral performer and to enrich the cultural life of our society. ICSOM currently represents over 4,000 musicians from 51 major symphony orchestras throughout the United States, and is a Players’ Conference of the American Federation of Musicians. In honor of the event, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaimed August 22, 2012 "ICSOM DAY."

The Master Chorale of South Florida will soon be seeking a new Artistic Director. Karen Kennedy has resigned from the Chorale after only one season as artistic director. Kennedy cited her busy travel schedule and time-consuming duties as director of choral studies at the University of Miami as reasons for her departure. 

Florida Grand Opera has hired Susan Danis as its new general director and CEO. Danis has served as the executive director of the Sarasota Opera since 1999. During her tenure at Sarasota Opera, Danis saw the company's budget grow from $3.2 million to $8 million, and she oversaw a capital campaign that raised more than $47 million. She will start her new position at FGO in October.