New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has approved $323 million in culture funding. This is a seven percent increase from last year, which was also a record amount at the time. The funding also establishes a $10 million Cultural Stability Fund which would support struggling organizations.
Broadway cleaners, represented by SEIU, have reached agreement on a new, four-year contract. Wages will rise by 21 percent by the end of the contract. Additionally, there are improvements to paid leave and pension benefits.
recording
Sony Pictures is investing $100 million in Cosm. Cosm operates dome structures that allows patrons to experience films and sporting events on 87-foot dome displays. Domes are currently located in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta, with domes planned for Detroit and Cleveland. Sony plans to use the technology to present its own films, potentially bringing Spider Man and Ghostbusters to the giant dome experience.
Comcast plans to split its entertainment properties from its distribution network. NBCUniversal and Sky would form one company, while the broadband, wireless, and cable TV operations would form another. Comcast now believes is would be better able to compete if its properties were no longer unified.
The Recording Industry Association of America, the Grammys, and SAG-AFTRA are supporting the labeling of music tracks that use artificial intelligence in their creation. The labeling would have one icon for tracks generated primarily or entirely by AI, and another icon for tracks that use AI for some expressive elements. The labeling would be voluntary. More than one third of the tracks on Apple Music are now entirely generated by AI.
Sony is suing AI music company Udio again over copyright infringement. As part of discovery in its 2024 lawsuit, Sony discovered an additional 30,000 copyrighted tracks that were used by Udio, many likely stream ripped from YouTube. Udio argues that its use constitutes “fair use” under copyright law.
Netflix has paid $587 million for AI company InterPositive. The company was founded by Ben Affleck for “upending visual effects” while still protecting “human creativity and the people behind it.” Netflix is currently using AI mostly in post-production, with about 300 of its productions using AI to make higher quality output in less time.
Netflix is exploring adding live channels to its offerings. It is also considering bundling with other subscription-based streaming services. It is hoping this will lead to more subscriber engagement, where viewers spend more time watching and finishing content.
symphonic
The Nashville Symphony has appointed J. Mark Cantrell as president and CEO, succeeding Alan Valentine, who led the Symphony for 28 years and is now retiring. Cantrell was most recently CEO of the Colorado Symphony, and before that he was CEO of the Florida Orchestra.