U.S. Museums in Crisis as 85% Report Deferred Maintenance

A recent report from the GAO indicates that 85% of museums in the U.S. are facing issues with deferred maintenance, while 77% have at least one structural concern that could jeopardize their collections. This underscores the deteriorating condition of cultural infrastructure nationwide. In Los Angeles, family-owned prop houses, florists, and craft stores—essential to Hollywood's production scene—are shutting down due to a downturn following the pandemic. A working television writer observes that the job market has fundamentally diminished, with talent alone not being enough. On a different note, Warner Music reported a quarterly revenue of $1.73 billion and initiated a multi-year partnership with Paramount Pictures for artist biopics. Additionally, A24, now valued at $3.5 billion, has ventured into hospitality with a new restaurant and theater in New York City. An article in The Atlantic discusses "trend simulation," where individuals are compensated to feign endorsements of bands to artificially boost their popularity.