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FYI

Music Biz Headlines, June 4, 2018

Deborah Cox, Anthrax, Lightning Dust, Shawn Mendes, Ed the Sock, Kanye West, Reeny Smith, Google, Lykke Li, Aces Wyld, Mercy Funk and The Rodeo Song make the headlines today.

Music Biz Headlines, June 4, 2018

By Kerry Doole

How did she get here? The oral history of Deborah Cox's 'Nobody's Supposed to Be Here'

The song by the Canadian singer overcame a difficult development period to become one of the biggest hits of the late '90s and, eventually, a gay anthem – Nolan Feeney, Billboard


 Man swims to Budweiser Stage after getting kicked out of Slayer concert

He wore an Anthrax T-shirt, and that band's guitarist, Scott Ian, was impressed by the fan's dedication –Blog TO

Ed the Sock, the cigar-chomping hand puppet, is making a comeback

The irascible cigar-chomping hand puppet who gruffly graced MuchMusic and Toronto’s CITY-TV in the 1990s and 2000s is making a comeback, with furrowed brow, gravelly voice and permanent scowl intact – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

The best concerts and music festivals in Toronto this summer

Your guide to summer 2018 music includes NXNE, Lauryn Hill, Radiohead and the final Warped Tour –  Staff, NOW

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SZA, Brockhampton, Shawn Mendes and Sigrid: 2018’s festival anthems

What makes a banging festival anthem, besides a simple chorus that vast crowds can belt out in unison? Here are the tracks you can expect to hear all summer  – Alex Petridis & MichaelCragg, The Guardian

RIP World Music?

The music is more influential and borderless than ever, but the term is outdated. So what do we call it? Global beats? The new Canadian Sound? –  Chaka V. Grier, NOW

What's In Your Fridge: Joshua Wells and Amber Webber of Lightning Dust

The Vancouver rock duo discusses first concerts, fave albums and an addiction to hot sauces  – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

How a Pentagon contract became an identity crisis for Google

It has fractured Google’s workforce, fueled heated staff meetings and internal exchanges, and prompted some employees to resign –  Scott Shane, New York Times

We asked musicians to share their favourite Toronto ‘field trips’

In the spirit of the festival held on the weekend, we asked a few of the performers what their ideal Toronto “field trip” would be   Ben Rayner, Toronto Star

Kanye West dives into drama surrounding him on new album, Ye

The period between albums has been quite a roller coaster for the rapper, who cancelled his 2016 Saint Pablo tour following hospitalization and a mental breakdown – Elahe Izadi, The Washington Post 

Reeny Smith: Pop and power

With her debut full-length WWII: Strength. Courage. Love. finally on the horizon, the North Preston R&B artist talks family, heart and empowerment –  Brandon Young, The Coast

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Lykke Li on Rihanna, hypnotism and being a ‘difficult’ woman in pop

Releasing her first album since 2014, the songwriter returns with So Sad So Sexy, made after a period of ‘baby momma’ meltdowns and creative burnouts – Michael Cragg, The Guardian

Saskatoon band Aces Wyld serious about having a good time

A new album has just come out and it sounds like "something between Blake Shelton and Florida Georgia Line" –  Cam Fuller, StarPhoenix

Eclectic groove band puts the fun in funk and more

“We can't be anything other than what we are, but I'm not sure that message has gotten across yet” - Mercy Funk bassist Angela Proulx  – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal

Alberta Crude: Four hard-working local musicians reflect on their 40-year-old hit 'The Rodeo Song'

Don’t pretend you have never heard it. At some point—a birthday party or bush party, camping or fishing, a rodeo or a rave, in a bar or a back seat—the catchy country tune, with the unforgettably raunchy lyrics, grabbed your attention –  Scott Cruickshank, Swerve

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The Queens of R&B Tour
Derek Blanks with crowdMGMT

The Queens of R&B Tour

Rb Hip Hop

Xscape & SWV's 2024 The Queens of R&B Tour is Coming to Toronto

MYA, 702 and Total are special guests on Monami Entertainment and Live Nation-produced tour that kicks off June 27.

Xscape and SWV have been announced as co-headliners for The Queens of R&B Tour. Produced by Monami Entertainment and Live Nation, the 30-city tour will launch June 27 with special guests MYA, 702 and Total.

Monami Entertainment founder/CEO Mona Scott-Young tells Billboard, “Xscape and SWV are an indelible part of R&B music; their influence and reach are undeniable. These Queens of R&B have connected to the hearts and souls of fans and, along with 702, MYA and Total, will travel across the country this summer to give the fans what they have been asking for — an unforgettable co-headline experience! From their hit television series to embarking on this tour, the journey for these ladies has not been easy but they are all a living testament to the power of resiliency and strength through perseverance. I am so proud to be part of this defining moment in R&B culture and so grateful for our partnership with Live Nation.”

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