Music Biz Headlines, Oct. 25, 2017

Music Biz Headlines, Oct. 25, 2017

Oct 25, 2017 by FYI Staff Comments

That time when Citytv knew music

Music was in Citytv's DNA from the very beginning. Co-founder Moses Znaimer adored music and correctly identified its crossover potential in the burgeoning TV universe (Leonard Cohen has perfectly described him as "The CPR of music"). He possessed laidback Montreal sensibilities tempered by a DIY protopunk ethos, at a time when Toronto was in the throes of an almighty Sixties hangover, Rochdale hippie idealism abounded, and the ghosts of New York nightclubs loomed large. This fertile breeding ground would just over a decade later give birth to our last great hope in the battle to stop MTV's soulless encroach into Canada, the mighty MuchMusic — blogTo

Here’s how far physical albums sales have fallen

Looking at this week’s Canadian charts, P!nk is the only clear winner, selling nearly 60,000 copies of her Beautiful Trauma album, an amazing accomplishment in this day and age. But then we look at the #2 album in the country, Beck’s Colors. In its debut week, it sold just 3,800 units across the country. It was possible to squeak into the Canadian Top 10 by moving just 1,800 records. And it gets worse — Alan Cross, A Journal of Musical Things

Liona Boyd’s new outlook on life

She may be a classical musician, but Liona Boyd has always had a rock star’s social life — Liz Braun, Toronto Sun

Governments can regulate culture. The question is should we?

There is a notion floating around that it's no longer possible to regulate culture – that the digital revolution has upended old policies that sought to protect Canadian arts and letters from foreign competition. That notion is false — John Ibbitson, The Globe & Mail

Life after NAFTA: Why no deal may free Canada on IP policy

Should the deal fail, years of dodging U.S. pressure on IP may give way to an international-oriented approach that reflects a strong commitment to striking a balance that protects creators, facilitates innovation, and entrenches user rights — Michael Geist’s blog

Geddy Lee talks baseball, family, music and more in an interview with Dan Rather

I lost my dad early on, and my parents came from a situation of horror in Europe through the war. So, I've always had this appreciation for gettin' the most outta the day, getting the most out of the minute. I have a lot of interests, and I try to follow those interests, and I try to embrace the world — Blabbermouth blog

Numb the pain with the money': how hip-hop turned nihilistic

Post Malone’s rockstar, the No 1 song in the US and UK this week, is a tale of drugs and loveless sex – and joins similarly empty-sounding hits from 21 Savage, Future, Lil Uzi Vert and more. Why has mainstream rap become so bleak? – Tirhakah Love, The Guardian