LSO Live: An Entrepreneurial Venture

Authors

  • Travis Newton Le Moyne College

Abstract

This case study, grounded in entrepreneurship theory, explores LSO Live, the sixteen-year-old record label wholly owned and operated by the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). The examination includes a history of the forward-looking LSO, including: the player-owned model of the orchestra; the ensemble's long tradition of film soundtrack recording; the launch of their in-house label, LSO Live; the organization's current plans for a new “Centre for Music”; the LSO's efforts to engage audiences through digital audio and video content; and challenges facing the orchestra as they “push forward” into new territory while also capitalizing on their 102 year history. The LSO's experiences in launching, maintaining, and furthering the label illuminate the importance of traditional “legacy” arts organizations' efforts to speak to a new audience and produce electronic media.

Author Biography

Travis Newton, Le Moyne College

Travis Newton is Associate Professor at Le Moyne College, where he directs the Le Moyne College Symphony Orchestra and teaches courses in music and arts administration. He holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance with secondary studies in voice and conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Business Administration from Le Moyne College.

An experienced musician, arts administrator and educator, Prof. Newton's previous experience includes serving as Operations Director of The Florida Orchestra in Tampa Bay, managing the 74-member orchestra's daily operations, including approximately 200 rehearsals and concerts each season. Travis also served in numerous roles at the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, including Operations Manager, Education Manager, and Director of Community Engagement. As Operations Manager of the SSO, he oversaw the orchestra's tour of the northeast, culminating in a return to Carnegie Hall.

Travis has played and conducted more than 500 performances of Broadway musicals across the U.S. and Canada as well as multiple guest conducting appearances with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Central New York's new professional orchestra, Symphoria. He also performed as section violinist with the orchestras of Syracuse, Charleston and Greensboro, as well as the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra at Eastern Music Festival, where he previously served as a faculty member. He has enjoyed collaborating with well-known composers, including conducting the world premiere of Academy Award-nominated composer Patrick Doyle's score for the silent film "IT" at the 2013 Syracuse International Film Festival.

As director of Le Moyne College's music program from 2010-2016, he lead the program through a period of renewal and growth. In 2013, Prof. Newton founded the College's interdisciplinary undergraduate arts administration program, and in 2015 he created new graduate programs in arts administration, including a Master of Science and Graduate Certificate. He serves as Artistic Director of the Le Moyne College Summer Arts Institute String Camp.

Prof. Newton serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Arts Administration Educators and presents regularly at arts administration conferences in the United States and abroad. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music and is the organization's Director of Music Programming, programming their season of world-class chamber music.

Downloads

Published

2017-01-02

How to Cite

Newton, T. (2017). LSO Live: An Entrepreneurial Venture. Artivate: A Journal of Entrepreneurship in the Arts, 6(1), 33–45. Retrieved from https://artivate.org/index.php/artivate/article/view/62

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2017): Winter

Section

Articles