Strike Preparations - Actors’ Equity Association in the US is to continue with "strike preparations" in New York, after the union and the Broadway League failed to reach an agreement following two days of mediation. The union and trade association the Broadway League have been in negotiations since August over the production contract, which contains the terms of employment for stage managers and actors on Broadway. The last three-year contract ended on 28 September.
A central issue of the negotiations is healthcare and the Broadway League’s financial contribution to the union’s healthcare fund. AEA is asking Broadway League to "pivot toward humane scheduling, including providing paid time off", to pay its "fair share toward our health insurance" and to "reasonably and safely staff our workplaces to foster safety and prevent emergencies".
An updated statement from Al Vincent Jr, AEA’s executive director, said: “We made some progress during our two days of mediation, but Equity and the Broadway League are still very far apart on some of our most pressing issues. We plan to resume talks on 17 October. In the meantime, we will continue strike preparations in case we need to take that step.”
Members of Congress have urged AEA and the Broadway League to avoid a strike. "Broadway and all theatre is essential not just to New York, but to our national identity, culture and economy, say the politicians. “A disruption to Broadway will result in significant economic disruption to not just the New York metropolitan area but harm theatre workers and patrons across the country and around the world.”
Eurovision - The organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have postponed a vote on whether Israel should be allowed to perform in next year's competition. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said "recent developments in the Middle East" had prompted it to cancel the virtual meeting to vote on the matter, which was scheduled to take place in November.
It said Israel's participation would instead be discussed at an in-person meeting in December, though it did not make clear whether a vote would still take place. Israel's participation in Eurovision has faced opposition from some other participating countries due to the war in Gaza.
Stamp Duty - Rick Wakeman said he was "very overwhelmed and very proud" to have a set of Isle of Man stamps created in his honour. The collection features fantasy landscapes, created by Roger Dean, which adorned the covers of several of Wakeman's solo projects and work with the band Yes. The musician said the artwork had "always felt like a natural extension of the music I've created, and to see our worlds brought together on stamps is both surreal and wonderful".
Mercury Fringe - A week of fringe events for the first Mercury Prize ceremony outside of London will inspire the next generation, organisers say. The festival of free events around north-east England is running ahead of the music industry awards at Newcastle's Utilita Arena on 16 October. Showcases, workshops and masterclasses are being held on Tyneside, along with venues in Sunderland, Durham and Hexham. One of the organisers, Adam MacDonald, from music development agency Generator, said they hoped to create a "lasting legacy" by working with "grassroots emerging artists who are going to be there within the next 10 years, winning that Mercury Prize".
Piano Blues - A performer who set out to busk in every town in the UK with her custom-built ‘piano bike’ has cancelled a string of tour dates after her van was stolen. Chloe Marie Aston, from Ilfracombe, Devon, was performing in Tamworth when the vehicle, which she left locked, was stolen. The travelling musician normally drives to each town and then cycles to where she performs. After the theft, she had to cycle with her piano to the police station.
(Jim Evans)
