Music
Long Live Rock 'n Roll: Hall of Fame Releases 2022 Induction Nominees
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has released the names of the 17 artists nominated for induction in 2022. Of those names, seven are appearing on the ballot for the first time, including Eminem, who’s doing so during his first year of eligibility. To become eligible, a performer's first commercial recording must be released 25 prior to the nomination. Eminem sold his first LP, Infinite, out of the trunk of his car starting in 1996. Dolly Parton has also received her first nomination, despite becoming eligible in the late 80s. Several returning nominees have come close to an induction, like MC5, who has appeared on the ballot six times. But only 5—7 of these nominees will make it into the iconic Hall, though the number remains flexible as more potential honorees are announced. For example, 2021 saw 13 inductees, but only 6 were listed on the ballot. Induction fan voting is open to the public through April 29, and the top five artists will be tallied alongside industry member votes to determine the final 2022 class. According to John Sykes, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, “This year’s ballot recognizes a diverse group of incredible artists, each who has had a profound impact on the sound of youth culture.” Many genres are represented in the list of nominees, from hip hop and pop to glam rock.
Broadway
In With the Old: New Data Shows Which Reopened Plays Performed Well
When Broadway stages reopened last fall, several new shows opened with the goal of attracting fewer tourists and more native New Yorkers. But according to previously undisclosed financial data, the real winners of the short-lived Broadway revival were the already-well-known plays and performances. In the months between the reopening and Omicron-related closures, pre-pandemic hits thrived while newer, more experimental plays struggled. The Broadway League decided not to reveal specific box office numbers for this period, but The New York Times managed to gain access to the figures anyway. In the week leading up to the December 12 closures, one third of the running shows grossed more than $1 million, but only two of them—Six and The Lehman Trilogy—are newcomers. The best week during the reopening was that of Thanksgiving, when four performances grossed at least $2 million each. Currently, only 19 of 41 theaters have performances scheduled—an industry low. But producers are optimistic that ticket sales will spring back with new openings scheduled for April.
Advertisements
Sold Out: NBC Ad Sales Reach $7M For 30 Seconds During the Super Bowl
The sale of advertising spots during the biggest televised sporting event of the year has broken records, and all ad time is already sold out. There are still ad spots available for pre-game programming, but those spaces are limited. For the first time, all advertisers are planning to run their ads across multiple channels (including NBC, Telemundo, and streaming service Peacock). This advertising class is made up of 30 companies, 40% of whom are making their Super Bowl debut. The automotive, technology, entertainment, and wellness sectors are seeing the biggest advertising growth. So far, this year’s advertisements are shaping up to be a bit different than 2021’s. According to Dan Lovinger, who leads Olympics ad sales for NBCUniversal, the commercials are becoming more comedic, compared to last year’s pandemic-focused campaigns. At a press event last week, Lovinger said, “You’re going to see a slightly lighter tone. And I think the country’s ready for it.” The game will be held in Los Angeles, airing in the middle of the winter Olympics—all of which makes this year a very appealing investment for marketers.
Industry
Prioritizing Wellness: BFI Funds On-Set Facilitators
In entertainment, wellbeing facilitators are gaining popularity as the industry seeks to eradicate on-set instances of harassment and bullying. As a role, it is the duty of a wellbeing facilitator to foster a positive working culture and ensure that everyone is provided with proper support during production. They advise on stress-related issues and address any discrimination. The British Film institute first started utilizing these facilitators in 2021, and now they plan to fund this role across all projects they back. The non-profit 6ft From the Spotlight will provide training for all current and future facilitators. As BFI’s head of inclusion, Jennifer Smith, explained, “Our goal is that this role becomes normalized across industry, because a positive and safe working environment is essential in order to retain our existing talented workforce and to attract new people to the sector.” Many see the introduction of this role as a step in the right direction for the industry, as it gives production the ability to meet their duties to care for crews while enabling the creation of great content.
Festivals
Film Festivals Phone Home: TCM and AFI Fest Set Dates With Latest Announcements
The American Film Institute has officially announced the dates for its upcoming festival, opening entries and encouraging filmmakers to submit their shorts for consideration. The 36th AFI Fest will take place in Los Angeles from November 2 to November 6, which places the event in the heart of awards season. The announcement did not provide details on whether the event would be fully in-person or partially virtual. Due to ongoing pandemic uncertainty, the festival will also include non-fiction films, which are usually presented at their early summer AFI Docs event. AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale said, “Uniting our events this year to be held in the fall will allow us to achieve this at a standard worthy of AFI and the storytellers who devote their lives to inspire and educate.” For short films, AFI Fest is also an Oscar-qualifying event. The TCM Classic Movie Festival is moving ahead as well, with its April 21—24 dates in place, opening with a fortieth anniversary screening of ET: The Extra Terrestrial. This event will be fully live, despite being held virtually for the last two years.
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