PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — While the Philly Pops are embroiled in legal difficulties, a new group has formed to keep their style of orchestral music alive in Philadelphia.
The new group is called “No Name Pops,” and is composed of former Philly Pops musicians who just want to play concerts. It operates completely independent of Encore Series Inc., doing business as the Philly Pops.
“The musicians have taken control of their work environment. The musicians have decided to not allow factors that are beyond their control to dictate their future,” said Jared Antonacci, secretary-treasurer of Philadelphia Musicians Union local 77.
The musicians of the Philly Pops have been caught in the middle of a dispute between their employer and the American Federation of Musicians International Office with regard to payments for streaming, as well as their former landlord, the Kimmel Center, which evicted the Pops for back rent in January.
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“The office of local 77 hopes that they can come to some sort of a resolution soon,” said Antonacci. “It will be for the better of everybody.”
Last winter, the Philly Pops announced they would stop performing at the end of that season. Though the organization reversed course after a groundswell of public support, Johnathan Fink, cellist and founding board member of No Name Pops, says they were shocked at the initial news.
“We believe that there really is a need and a want to have good orchestral pop music in the city, and so we came together to form the No Name Pops to provide this style of music to Philadelphia,” said Fink.
He insists they have no ill feelings against the Philly Pops, but are happy to play again.
“We are thrilled to share that our future includes a debut show onstage at Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Cultural campus,” Fink said. The show is scheduled for October 28, and is titled “Let’s Groove: Motown and the Philly Sound.”
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