Popular Culture

12 May 2003


Kelly and Ozzy Osbourne Leave Sony, Jack Stays

There is an old insult about throwing away the wrong part after a circumcision. That is the feeling one gets on hearing the latest from Osbourne land. Ozzy and Kelly will be leaving Sony while Jack gets to keep his A&R position. Jack may be a perfectly good music industry wizard, but the musicians are going to become more and more important as record sales drop thanks to MP3s, etc. What Sony doesn't need is an extra A&R man. For more, click here.

Art Bubble Still Burst, but Art It Remains
Sotheby's in New York has started a two-week auction of Impressionist art, and judging by the results, the art world is suffering about as much as high-tech companies. Where a Renoir sold for $78 million in 1990, his "Dans les Roses" mustered a mere $23.5 after commissions. This was at the low end of the estmiated range, and there is no sign of radical improvement anytime soon. Click here to read on.

Sentimental Gushing Wrecks Mom's Day
This past Sunday was Mothers' Day in the US. This non-holiday fabricated by greeting card companies typifies the crass vulgarity of commerce when mixed with the finer human feelings. The message is "buy something for Mom, or be an ungrateful child." Pro-mother is the house policy at the Kensington Review, but for that reason, Mothers' Day needs re-working. Click here to read more.