As I sit down to write this letter, I find myself at a loss for words. So much has happened in 2020 and so much has already been said and written about it. Last March, as the lockdown was starting and live performances were being canceled, I wrote to you and promised to help you stay connected to the music, artists, and organizations you love, while keeping you informed about current affairs and their effect on the music community. Since then, with a reduced budget but a committed and hard-working group of writers and editors, we have delivered regular news to your inbox.
We have met the George Floyd/Black Lives Matter protests by expanding and amplifying coverage of Black musicians and issues, have written cutting-edge articles on evolving responses of classical arts organizations to the pandemic, increased our media coverage by publishing more recording, book, and film reviews, and continued to update our streaming guide every week to help you get your culture fix from the safety of your home.
We have also been busy behind the scenes working on a redevelopment project for our website. The new website, scheduled to launch this fall, will provide you with an improved user experience and will incorporate up-to-date production and safety protocols.
This fall, we are launching a series of Zoom interviews with great musicians that you won’t want to miss. The first one is scheduled for October 14, and will feature tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain in conversation with music journalist Andrew Gilbert. We hope you will join us for this exciting new venture! The hour-long conversation is only $20, and you can register here.
I hope our work is keeping you engaged with our arts community, and that it is a source of refuge and occasional joy! If your circumstances allow, please consider making a donation. We are a freestanding nonprofit funded by readers like you. Today, we need you more than ever.
