Music Biz Headlines, July 20, 2018
Radiohead feels betrayed by the Ontario justice system, Roger McGuinn reflects upon a seminal album, and Merck Mercuriadis wants to raise a billion dollars. Also in the headlines are Jonelle Monae, The Go-Go's, Cliff Richard, Cowboy Junkies, Joey Stylez, Judges, Cher, Lauryn Hill, London rock clubs, Chaka Khan, the Polaris shortlist, Psyche, Ryan Cook, and Element fest.
By Kerry Doole
Radiohead returns to Toronto after justice falters
Enjoy Radiohead this week, Toronto. But give a thought or raise a glass or tip a hat or some gesture, at least, to acknowledge the memory of Scott Johnson amidst that enjoyment. He deserved better than what Ontario has done for him – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Pop Quiz: Roger McGuinn on how the Byrds’ commercial flop became a country-rock classic
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo has earned its place among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band’s most influential work. Having veritably started the alt-country genre, it provided the blueprint for countless acts that followed – Aidin Vaziri, SF Chronicle
Janelle Monáe's Rebel concert was a celebration of freedom and self-love
With a joyous, ambitious performance, the newly out pop singer showed how comfortable she's settled into her free-ass motherf***ery – Chris Rattan, NOW
Merck Mercuriadis wants to raise a billion dollars
Then he wants to change the face of the music business – Tim Ingham, MBW
The Go-Go’s offer advice as their career hits new stage on Broadway
The pioneering all-female band reunited on a Broadway stage last week to welcome Head Over Heels, the musical based on the band’s infectious hits. They treated the audience to a two-song set at curtain call – John Carucci, AP
Cliff Richard: Singer wins BBC privacy case at High Court
Judge awards £210,000 in damages to the singer against the BBC over its coverage of a police raid on his home – BBC News
Lauryn Hill infuriates concertgoers during Toronto show
The singer showed up over an hour late and only played a 45-minute set – Kyle Eustice, hiphopdx.com
Cowboy Junkies explore personal politics on All That Reckoning
When writing the band's first album in six years, Michael Timmins says, "I began to notice these nice parallels between what’s happening in the outside world and the inside world" – Jordan Zivitz, Montreal Gazette
Five things to know about Joey Stylez The Star Chief
Titled The Star Chief, Joey Stylez's new album is nine tracks of the street style, message-heavy music that Stylez excels at – Stuart Derdeyn, Star-Phoenix
Maple Ridge's punk-rock Judges are stupidly (theatrical) fun
Punks in Maple Ridge tend to know each other. From Jonny Bones to Johnny Mongoloid to Jay Raymond, it’s not a huge scene – Allan MacInnis, Georgia Straight
Smiley rules, and here’s proof
The Toronto rapper got a nod from Drake for his one-of-a-kind flow that’s ten toes down in the street – Jordan Darville, The Fader
Cher to release album of Abba covers following Mamma Mia! role
Following her version of Fernando for the film sequel, the singer says she took on Abba classics “in a different way” for a covers album – Ben Beaumonth-Thomas, The Guardian
The 15 Best Rock Clubs in London
The list includes The Lexington, Dave Grohl's favourite, Crobar, and The Half Moon – Foursquare.com
All kinds of Chicago music—AM radio pop, free-spirited R&B, bold Afrocentric jazz, soulful funk—came together to shape her incredible voice –James Porter and Jake Austen, Pitchfork
Breaking down the 2018 Polaris Prize shortlist
This year’s 10 contenders include albums from Daniel Caesar, U.S. Girls, Pierre Kwenders, Jeremy Dutcher, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and more – Richard Trapunski, NOW
Psyche reunites with long-lost electronic friends and fans in 9910 concert
The Western Canadian electronic music pioneer is back in town after 30 years – Tom Murray, Edmonton Journal
Cook channels Hank at music festival
Few Nova Scotia artists are plugged into the continuity of country music like Ryan Cook. At this weekend’s Acoustic Maritime Music Festival on the Kempt Shore, he pays homage to Hank Williams – Stephen Cooke, Chronicle-Herald
Element Music Festival jams with scenic sonics
The Element crew is selling the experience as well as a concert weekend, betting that a crowd of 2,000 people in a beautiful setting will allow for a better holiday than the sweltering, urban confines of other multi-day events – Alexander Varty, Georgia Straight
