Music Biz Headlines, Feb. 24, 2020

By Kerry Doole

Ten years after her death, Lhasa de Sela's legacy matters as much as ever

“Montreal does claim her, but that’s fair — she claimed Montreal, too,” says the brother of the internationally praised multilingual singer and songwriter, who died at 37 in 2010. – Ian McGillis, Montreal Gazette

Hawksley Workman is feeling ‘pretty lucky’ about where he is in his career

No longer the Canadian indie-pop darling he was in the early 2000s, Hawksley Workman, at 44, has settled into a quietly resurgent mid-career groove. – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail

Drake's NBA Championship ring flex is the Drizziest thing ever

Drizzy's showmanship applies to his ring storage, too. It looks like the hype around Drake's NBA championship ring is still going strong. At least, for Drizzy himself, anyway. The rapper was filmed showing off the giant piece of jewelry in the most Drake way possible in front of an adoring crowd. – Narcity

Caleb Joseph’s air-drumming is a spring training  highlight

tThe veteran catcher, trying out for the Blue Jays, nailed every single beat from Neil Peart's characteristically fill-heavy drum work in Rush's 1980 banger "The Spirit of Radio." – The Score

Tapestry Opera’s Jacqueline strips away the inessential to reveal a moving story free from ego

Only after finally seeing the world premiere of Tapestry Opera’s latest brand-new opera, Jacqueline, is it crystal clear: Jacqueline du Pré is a perfect opera heroine. – Jenna Simeonov, The Globe and Mail

Muses podcast tells the overlooked stories of women in rock history

From groupies to inspirations, wives, lovers, mothers and industry figures, the Toronto-based podcast has created a space for the voices you haven't heard. – Olivia Bednar,  NOW

12-step cured him, music kept him going: James Taylor looks back as his 19th album comes out

Not only has he seen fire and rain; legendary singer and songwriter James Taylor has also seen more than his fair share of pain, includng a former longtime drug addiction. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

Review: Miss Anthropocene is Grimes's best album

Obsessions with Claire Boucher's personal life and perceived authenticity often overshadow what should be self-evident: her beautifully ambitious and singular pop music. – Samantha Edwards, NOW

Pilot project could see DIY performances in vacant city buildings

DIY spaces crucial to foster next generation of live musicians, city councillor says. – Philip Lee-Shanok, CBC

At Toronto Symphony’s relaxed performance the kids’ attention spans do the judging

Lobby tables laid out with sunglasses, squeezy balls and other fidget-fighting trinkets suggested this was not going to be an ordinary Toronto Symphony concert. – John Terauds, Toronto Star

International

Women on Country Radio: Data mixes with lip service at CRS 2020

This year’s Country Radio Seminar placed an emphasis on talking about the format’s biggest problem — if not solving it. –  Marissa Moss, Rolling Stone

Tencent Music Entertainment: The music hasn't stopped

Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) has had a rough year with a probe relating to anti-trust concerns which was later dropped, and slowing user growth and decline in gross margins as content costs increased. – Seeking Alpha

EU touring artists will need visas to perform in the UK from 2021

From Jan. 2021, European artists will need visas to perform at venues or cultural events in the U.K. after the Brexit transition period ends. – Cristina Gallardo, Politico

Artificial Intelligence made a song in the style of Travis Scott. It sounds unnervingly like Travis Scott

This. Is. Wild. A US-based digital agency, Space150, recently thought it would conduct a fun experiment: model Travis Scott’s sonic and vocal style via Artificial Intelligence, and see what original production AI might subsequently invent. – Tim Ingham, MBW

Billie Eilish’s James Bond song is out, and it’s got the stank

Here’s a very unofficial ranking of the best 10 Bond theme tunes instead. – Kevin Williams, Chicago Tribune

10 debut albums that aren't that good, to be honest

Some debut albums don’t always showcase the artist that created them. Some debuts are a bit lacklustre and don’t give any hint at how the act will blossom and develop over time. Some debut LPs are just rubbish. Should these albums (Radiohead?) be on this list? – Radio UK

Police investigating rapper Pop Smoke’s killing say robbery looks unlikely as motive

The home-invasion death of rising rapper Pop Smoke in Los Angeles does not appear to be part of a robbery, police said Thursday, as detectives sought to identify the shooter and the music community mourned.  – Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press

For Mandy Moore, ‘This Is Us’ helped push her to make new music and tour again

Mandy Moore picks up the phone and — upon being asked what she’s up to — announces she is at the car wash, and that she’s spending Presidents Day running around L.A. doing errands during a day off from work. – Théoden Janes, The Charlotte Observer

Greg Dulli talks solo album ‘Random Desire’ and its influences in BV interview

Afghan Whigs and Twilight Singers main man Greg Dulli releases Random Desire, his solo debut, this week. Made almost entirely on his own, Greg explores new sounds and styles while still keeping within that swaggering style he’s cultivated over the last 30 years. – Bill Pearis, Brooklyn Vegan

Mavis Staples reflects on the Stax Years: New episode of 'Memphis Masters'

Back in 1968, a deal with Stax Records vaulted the Staple Singers from a stripped-down family gospel act to a soul music powerhouse and later induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and to a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. – Gary Graff, Billboard

Kofi Baker keeps dad Ginger's beat alive with The Music of Cream

Keeping the late player’s music alive is the reason behind The Music of Cream. The band also includes Eric Clapton’s nephew and Will Johns, son of Glyn. – Stuart Derdeyn, Postmedia

Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in upcoming biopic

Jennifer Hudson has already generated major buzz about her role as The Queen of Soul. – Karan Tiwari, Sound Pasta

Supergrass: ‘We’ve always been about manic energy’

The Britpop veterans are back on the road, 10 years on from the infighting that saw them self-destruct. The Observer joins them in Amsterdam. – Nosheen Iqbal,The Observer