"How to buy a record review"

76.118.229.151

Posted by Poles Apart on October 27, 2011 at 18:05:23

Granted this is Norman LeBrecht...

The editor of Gramophone has resigned....

More alarming is the continued practice at the US classical record magazine Fanfare of offering reviews for cash. Here’s how it works. When Fanfare receives a copy of your CD, it asks you to take an advert ‘at special rates’. The bigger the ad, the larger the coverage. No ad, no guaranteed review. Simple as that.

There is more, much more, but one reader comment stands out, to my eye:

20 years ago, “Fanfare” offered wishy-washy and truth-concealing reviews of many of the BMG/RCA Toscanini Edition reissues on RCA Gold Seal. A number of titles were issued in fake stereo or not transferred from the best surviving original master sources.

The reason “Fanfare” didn’t tell the whole truth is because one of its frequent contributing editors, Mortimer Frank, just happened to serve as the program note annotator for that Toscanini Edition.

Among informed record collecting circles in the US, “Fanfare” has been corrupt for years. That’s not to say they haven’t had their share of excellent and _morally principled_ reviewers (e.g. the late William Youngren), but, basically, it is indeed corrupt.

I had been wondering what happened to WY, with whom I enjoyed several hours of musical communication ranging from Bix to Wagner. I am saddened to learn, at last, of his death.

P.A.

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2011/10/how-to-buy-a- (Open in New Window)

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - "How to buy a record review" - Poles Apart 18:05:23 10/27/11 (26)

To be fair... - John N 07:59:54 10/28/11 (6)

I believe that it is across the board--the feature treatment is just for big ads - John Marks 07:14:35 10/29/11 (0)

Yes. - Kal Rubinson 08:12:48 10/28/11 (4)

To clarify... - C.B. 14:16:29 10/28/11 (3)

Fanfare Is The Best Classical Magazine - Mike Porper 13:03:35 11/02/11 (0)

RE: To clarify... - Kal Rubinson 16:26:43 10/28/11 (1)

RE: To clarify... - Vade Forrester 09:25:44 10/29/11 (0)

Poppycock. - rbolaw 07:12:35 10/28/11 (14)

"The Boston Globe, which published an article by its classical music critic praising Joyce Hatto." NO! - Poles Apart 10:24:25 10/28/11 (13)

YES! - rbolaw 11:04:21 10/28/11 (12)

Well, not really... - Kas 13:21:23 10/28/11 (10)

RE: Well, not really... - rbolaw 14:46:40 10/28/11 (9)

"the Hatto CDs were speed manipulated" - Chris from Lafayette 23:23:19 10/28/11 (8)

RE: "the Hatto CDs were speed manipulated" - rbolaw 12:31:23 10/29/11 (0)

Had some filched CDs not been left alone, the fraud might not have come to light - John Marks 07:46:14 10/29/11 (6)

RE: Had some filched CDs not been left alone, the fraud might not have come to light - rbolaw 12:25:25 10/29/11 (5)

Well, at least one undoctored CD slipped into the stream of commerce, and the jig was well and truly up. - John Marks 11:33:44 10/30/11 (4)

All true - rbolaw 13:39:01 10/30/11 (3)

Look at Ivan Moravec's discography... That's more the norm. - John Marks 18:44:12 10/30/11 (2)

Moravec/Schumann - pbarach 14:58:11 11/01/11 (0)

Exactly. nt - rbolaw 12:11:36 10/31/11 (0)

Yes - Dyer was bad - Chris from Lafayette 13:06:52 10/28/11 (0)

Mortimer Frank? wasn't he the ANTI-IP reviere for Stereophile, too! - Timbo in Oz 20:12:02 10/27/11 (3)

'IP - is that short for HIP? [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 13:09:54 10/28/11 (2)

Geeze was I tired last night or WHAT!? - Timbo in Oz 13:23:47 10/28/11 (1)

Yup - I know what you mean (except I'm on the opposite side of the fence) [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 13:40:16 10/28/11 (0)

"How to buy a record review"

76.118.229.151

Post a Message!