A musicians' union banned the Kinks from US work for four years after a chaotic 1965 tour

historyWikipedia1965–1969 · United States

A musicians' union banned the Kinks from US work for four years after a chaotic 1965 tour

the gist

In June and July 1965 the Kinks played their first American tour, sixteen concerts in a package format with several support acts and a set of about 40 minutes. The shows were often poorly attended because of weak promotion, and some promoters could not pay the band in full. After complaints about the band's conduct, and a row over a union contract that led Ray Davies to fight a union official, the American musicians' union withheld work permits. The ban lasted until early 1969, and the band did not regain steady US chart success until the late 1970s.

how it works

In the US, musicians' unions controlled work permits for foreign performers. Without a permit, a band could not legally perform there, so the union's decision effectively removed the Kinks from the American live circuit.

so what

The tour shows how a British Invasion band could be shut out of the world's biggest music market by labour rules and business disputes. It also explains why Ray Davies turned his songwriting towards more distinctly English themes.

the bigger pattern

Labour rules have repeatedly affected touring artists, with foreign musicians facing permit requirements and union restrictions in several countries.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗