Jacksonville University will eliminate its music and theater programs in a move to save $10 million. The University states that the programs are undersubscribed or specialized and do not prepare students for the future. Students currently enrolled will be allowed to complete their degrees but the programs will no longer be offered to incoming students.
The Trump administration is attempting to claw back $175 million in grants already awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities through a competitive application process. A NEH official also leaked that no grants will be issued going forward.
A report by the Arts and Production Satellite Account states that the arts and culture contributed $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023. That total amounts to 4.2 percent of the GDP, and is more than the amount contributed by agriculture, mining, transportation, and other sectors. It is also a 6.6 percent increase from the previous year.
Shelly Berg is retiring from his position as dean of the Frost School of Music at the end of the 2025-26 school year. He plans to focus on performance after his retirement. Berg was hired as dean in 2007, and during his tenure he brought the Henry Mancini Institute to the University and instituted the Donna Shalala MusicReach Program and the Stamps Scholars Program. He also oversaw construction of the Patricia L. Frost Studios and the Knight Center for Music Innovation.
Broadway had its best non-holiday week ever in April. Box office totals exceeded $50 million, led by The Lion King, Wicked, and Aladdin.
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RIAA reports that there are now more than 100 million paid streaming subscribers. Streaming now accounts for 84 percent of the recording industry’s revenue.
BMG revenue exceeded $1 billion in 2024. Revenues were up 6.4 percent over the previous year due to increased digital direct sales and investments.
The Trump administration has asked Congress to claw back $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB forward-funds PBS and NPR by two years specifically to insulate it from political maneuvering, so this claw-back would eliminate two years of funding.
Musicians performing the soundtrack as well as sidelining on the finale of season two of the Apple TV+ show Severance worked under an AFM contract with Local 802. Musicians began last year to gather signatures in support of union wages and working conditions, and with a majority in support were able to negotiate a contract with production company Fifth Season LLC.
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Florida Orchestra musicians have ratified a four-year agreement. Wages will rise three percent in year one, four percent in years two and three, and five percent in year four. In the third year, the season length will be increased by one additional work week and one additional vacation week. Musicians will also receive lower health insurance costs and increased parental leave and paid holidays.
The Southwest Florida Symphony has announced plans to permanently close on June 30. The management of the orchestra blames the lack of suitable venues, the struggle of presenting classical music, increased costs, and the departure of key leadership personnel, including executive director Amy Ginsburg. However, the musicians have been at odds with Ginsburg’s leadership, the orchestra’s revenue has grown to pre-pandemic levels, and the orchestra has nearly $3 million in an endowment fund. The orchestra had recently been negotiating with Stilian Kirov to continue as interim artistic advisor for next season, and the musicians were given no advance warning, so this news comes as a surprise to many.
After a sold out season offering $11 tickets, Opera Philadelphia is trying something else new. They will double the number of performances and increase their budget by 20 percent next season. Additionally, of the ten operas offered next season, only one will be a traditional opera.
The L.A. Philharmonic became the first orchestra to perform at Coachella last month. Under the leadership of Gustavo Dudamel, they performed with Maren Morris, Becky G, and LL Cool J, along with performing selections by Beethoven, Bach, Wagner, and John Williams.