We’ve had word of a ‘restructuring’ at the ever-troubled classical talent agency, owned by an American fraudster (l.) and a Russian minigarch.
Although the announcement below makes no mention of job cuts, we gather that auxiliary staff are to be slashed, reducing back-up services to individual artists and music organisations. e expect to have more details as the firing slips start landing. Meanwhile, here’s the statement:
Lorna Aizlewood, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel IMG Artists, today announced a restructuring of the business that will see the company organised along functional rather than its previous geographical lines.
IMG Artists will now consist of the following new divisions: global Artist Management, Sales, Touring, Attractions, Festivals & Events, Consulting and Corporate.
Operating from offices in three continents, IMG Artists is the only truly global performing arts management company, and the breadth and scale of work undertaken is unmatched by any other company operating in its sector.
Aizlewood commented:“When I was appointed COO in May this year, I began a company-wide process to analyse the commercial and artistic realities of the performing arts business, both today and for the future.
“This new proposed structure for IMG Artists has been designed to ensure that our company – the team and those we represent – are given the tools and support needed to thrive in the current market and beyond.
“These divisions align our company with the modern realities of our industry. Through this improved structure, IMGA will be able to offer its artists, clients and partners enhanced opportunities for advancing their careers and projects through strategic collaboration and increased exploitation of our unparalleled global network, all whilst retaining and supporting the key personal relationships with our roster of incredible artists that are at the core of our business.”
The new structure will be in effect from 1st October, 2014.
There has never been a four-hand best-seller, so far as we can tell.
But there is a benchmark recording, and it’s these guys below.
Now my Album of the Week on sinfinimusic.com suggest there may be a new contender for 4-hand supremacy – a pairing of two artists who have hovered around one another all their lives but never got it together at the keyboard. Click here to read more.
This is the one by which all other 4-hands are judged.
These are the crude terms of an orchestra lockout, set out in a letter to every musician in the ASO:
a) Key cards will be de-activated effective September 6th at midnight, limiting your building access.
b) If you need to retrieve any personal property from the building or you need to see the Personnel Department, please set up an appointment through Russell so that we can ensure security knows you are coming in to meet with us.
Nice people, huh?
In a move unrelated to the musicians lockout, we understand that the ASO has fired its supervising ushers, relying on volunteers in future. Here’s the letter they were sent.
We don’t yet know why and how, but we hear that the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, flying in for tonight’s 80th birthday tribute to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies at the BBC Proms, were held like cattle in a secure corridor at Gatwick Airport for up to half an hour.
Gatwick has an appalling reputation for overcrowding and mishandling passengers and luggage.
The orchestra flew Easyjet, which does not have the best record for punctuality and efficiency.
Two weeks ago, our Easyjet flight was directed to the wrong gate at Gatwick, adding considerable delay to its passengers.
We’ve no idea if today’s malfunction was Gatwick’s or Easyjet’s, but an apology from both would be a start.
This is disgraceful customer treatment.
UPDATE: The girlfriend of one of the players tells us: Easyjet lost his luggage, and now he has to do a televised prom and has no suit, no shoes, nothing. E are being utterly hopeless in the matter, and my bf is massively stressed. his rehearsal in 30 mins.
