30
June
Walking down the street, whistling, you might find yourself in case of violation… The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP in short, a performance rights body that licenses copyrighted works for non-dramatic public performances) believes it’s not entirely OK for little campers to sing “Happy Birthday” and/or “Row, Row, Row” around the campfire for free… Now add personal use of mobile communication means to that..
Frankly, a clear reminder of certain recent actions of ASCAP’s Belgian counterpart SABAM, who’ve led the media headlines recently with an outlandish claim towards private daycare centres, eventually resulting in more of the same. Rules and regulations, in all of its absurdity.
Luckily, less of the same landing on my lap recently, via a professionally torn-out newspaper article, courtesy of the steady hands of one of my Resonance collegues (thx Jan). Joining cities as Bologna, Sevilla and Glasgow on a select list, Ghent has been recognised by UNESCO as ‘City Of Music‘. Here’s what was officially published on the 11th of June: “The city of Ghent was foremost acknowledged for its reputation as a well-established centre for music with a rich tradition and inclusive approach to culture. The city possesses a complete infrastructure of creative and performing activities, with an impressive number of concert halls, education facilities and research centres. There is a solid support given to a variety of music genres, through a wide range of festivals and organisations. In addition, training and research activities are considered of core importance to the city with diverse education possibilities for local young artists, enabling them to develop their interest and career in the music field…”
Taking in the last sentence, i had to think of a set of tracks that have been sent my way shortly. Simon Halsberghe, going through blog- & Soundcloud-life as Simon Hold (one half of dj duo Pitch & Hold, one of my biggest surprises at last year’s Ten Days Off festival, playing a unmistakable, undeniable brilliant track such as this when least expected…) has been making a widening variety of electronic music in the past few years, ending up recently in 3 compositions that fairly impressed me, and would not feel out of place in a dark, cavernous environment, say 8 A.M. in the morning… Listen for yourself here.