GOING ON THE RECORD: It’s no secret that classical music CD sales have been heading steadily downward for several years. And because of that trend, record labels are getting pickier and pickier about what they will release. Because of that, both the Fort Worth and Dallas symphony orchestras have decided to cut out the middle men and just record and release concerts on their own. Neither orchestra is getting rich in the process, according to an excellent story on dfw.com. But producing the albums is more about connecting with fans and preserving performances, the orchestras say.

GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER: Fort Worth Weekly checks in with local funk band Get Well. The band has gone through a lot this year – losing some members, auditioning new ones. But things have settled down of late, as the new lineup is back to performing live. The hope is that the cash from those shows will go to fund a new album soon. If you want to support the cause, go see them tonight at Lola’s Saloon.

THE STATE OF PUBLIC ART: It won’t be long now before The Traveling Man sculpture is complete, welcoming the new DART line running through Deep Ellum. Between it and the recently unveiled Avenue of Light sculpture in Fort Worth, North Texas is seeing a public art boom. So it was interesting to read this New York Times story on the state of public art, which says, “The big problem for outdoor art is the absence of any consensus of values in our pluralistic, multicultural society. … contemporary outdoor art tends to offer unobjectionable, mildly decorative or entertaining and relatively empty experiences.”

Discuss.