Music Biz Headlines, April 25, 2018
Vinyl relief for small labels, Madonna loses a court battle, and Shania opens up about her long hiatus. Also in the headlines are Slow Leaves, Jim Kerr, queer pop, Kontravoid, Guitar Center, Harry Manx, Camila Cabello, Tronical, Adrian Glynn, Delta Jackson, and Billy Raffoul.
By Kerry Doole
As vinyl surges, a boutique pressing plant helps smaller indies get an in
“The availability of pressing plants for these small bands, for whom it’s critical, was next to none,” plant owner Kelleher says. Gold Rush uses Canadian-made presses – Chris Morris, Variety
Madonna loses legal fight to stop the sale of hair, underwear and Tupac breakup letter
A judge overturned the singer’s injunction against the sale of her items, citing misdirection – Laura Snapes, The Guardian
Exploring new areas of music with Slow Leaves
Four years ago Grant Davidson decided he needed a change, a fresh start to his music career. That received a major boost via the Allan Slaight Juno Master Class – Josh Aldrich, Camrose Canadian
Shania Twain on abuse, betrayal and finding her voice: ‘I wanted a break – but not for 15 years’
She recorded the bestselling album ever made by a woman but later disappeared from the limelight. As she begins her first album tour since 2002, she talks about the violent childhood and devastating divorce that make her pop’s great survivor – Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian
Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr on their iconic hit, David Bowie and touring Canada
The Scottish band has released its first studio album in four years, Walk Between Worlds, and just announced four Canadian fall dates including Sept. 30 at Toronto’s Sony Centre – Jane Stevenson, Toronto Sun
Kontravoid's Undone resonates beyond the dance floor
The long-awaited follow-up to Cameron Findlay's 2012 debut, the new EP pushes the Toronto electronic musician deeper into darkness – Michelle de Silva, NOW
Girl Talk! How queer pop came out
It has been 10 years since Katy Perry released I Kissed a Girl, a global hit that fetishised lesbians. Now with mainstream stars from St Vincent and Princess Nokia to Halsey and Marika Hackman singing about their myriad sexual identities, it’s time to put sapphic stereotypes to bed – Amelia Abraham, The Guardian
Guitar Center faces imminent bankruptcy after 59 years in business
As guitar sales plummet, some of the biggest guitar brands and retailers are facing bankruptcy. The latest is Guitar Center, which narrowly averted default and just got downgraded by S&P –Paul Resnikoff, Digital Music News
Fusion maestro Harry Manx brings multi-talents to live stage
“M” is for mysticssippi. And mohan veena. And Manx. That would be Harry Manx, inventor of folk-blues-Hindustani fusion. He performs Thursday, April 26 at the Broadway Theatre – Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Camila Cabello forges her path at The Riviera
From pacing to choreography, friendly banter to her of-the-moment material, her polished set scarcely missed the mark during her first headlining solo appearance in Chicago – Chicago Tribune
What's In Your Fridge: Adrian Glynn
What’s In Your Fridge is where the Straight asks interesting Vancouverites about their life-changing concerts, favourite albums, and, most importantly, what’s sitting beside the Heinz Ketchup in their custom-made Big Chill Retropolitan 20.6 cubic-foot refrigerators. Today it is The Fugitives' frontman's turn – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
Tronical to sue Gibson for $50 million
The company behind guitar auto-tuning systems, marketed as G-Force, is taking legal action claiming the guitar giant breached a contract – Michael Astley-Brown, MusicRadar
Canadian singer Billy Raffoul on recording with electronic dance producer Avicii
A week before they met early last year, Raffoul began writing guitar riffs to impress the electronic producer. He gathered his favourite instruments to bring along as a sign that he wasn't taking this opportunity for granted - Canadian Press
5 things to know about Delta Jackson's debut EP
The artist hails from Vancouver, but recorded her album at Peter Gabriel’s famed RealWorld Studios in Bath, England, in September 2017 - Stuart Derdeyn, Vancouver Sun
