Skratch Bastid (pictured) comes up with a quarantine playlist, music clubs now eligible for a government credit program, and a host of Covid-19-themed stories. Others in the headlines include Wild Strawberries, The Tragically Hip, Tom Wright, Apple Music, UMG, Warner Records, Pink, Kurt Cobain, The Grammy Museum, and Bill Withers.
By Kerry Doole
Devastated bars and lounges, as well as the country’s hard-hit cannabis sector, will now have access to $40 billion in new credit being made available via the government’s business bank during the Covid-19 crisis, its CEO said on Sunday. – Colin Perkel, CP
Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) on Monday, many self-employed artists and musicians across the country continued to wait for news as to what kind of financial relief would be available to them amid the Covid-19 pandemic – and when it might come. – J. Kelly Nestruck, The Globe and Mail
On April 9, the DJ and Juno-nominated producer (for Buck 65’s Situation) will participate in Pioneers, the new Instagram interview series from Starting From Scratch where the DJ interviews other “groundbreakers that helped shape our Canadian DJ culture.” He also makes us a playlist. – Karen Bliss, Complex Canada
Haysville, ON, is far from the bright lights and sounds of the music biz, but it is now home to the Juno-nominated pop band. – Nancy Silcox, New Hamburg Independent
Tragically Hip guitarist Paul Langlois joined the Sunday evening singalong for the long-term care facility where 22 people have died of Covid-19. – Radheyan Simonpillai, NOW
He has provided interim leadership since November 1, 2019, Wright had previously worked 13 seasons as Vancouver Opera’s director of artistic planning. Before that, he was director of artistic planning for Arizona Opera and the director of production at Calgary Opera. – Janet Smith, Georgia Straight
Concerts and festivals across the globe continue to be postponed or cancelled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. No one sees an end in sight, and that means the concert industry is going to see a huge decline in revenue. The research firm and trade publication Pollstar released a projected report which showed that revenue for the industry could be down as much as $9 billion in 2020. – Olivia Perreault, Ticketnews
The UK industry is the most successful in the world after America, but labels, venues, studios, artists and road crews are all under threat as the pandemic brings everything to a halt. Helen Brown talks to those affected and asks how we protect this jewel in the crown. – The Independent
The advance fund is available for independent labels and distributors, to support the indie sector with vital cashflow during the uncertainty of global Covid-19 lockdown. – Tim Ingham, MBW
As artists postpone releases amid a market slowdown, one major record label is finding success sticking to its original plans. “Music is very of the moment — it captures a time,” says Warner Records COO Tom Corson. – Tim Ingham, MBW
A judge has dismissed a class action lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) originally brought by several artists and estates over a 2008 vault fire. Soundgarden, Hole, Steve Earle and the estates of Tom Petty and Tupac Shakur filed a lawsuit demanding damages in excess of $100 million. – Press Association
Pink is opening up about her health after recently revealing she tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). During an Instagram Live chat with her friend and author Jen Pastiloff on Saturday, the “Beautiful Trauma” singer was briefly joined by her 3-year-old son Jameson, who said he was now “feeling better” after showing symptoms of Covid-19. – Eric Todisco, People
The long journey of the $137,500 sweater worn by Nirvana’s frontman. – Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone
"While we're practicing social distancing, nothing can bring us together like the power of music," Michael Sticka, President of the Grammy Museum, said. "Our doors may be closed, our mission is not," Sticka said. "So the Grammy Museum was able to, almost within a 48-hour period, pivot and create a digital museum. The museum will also be surfacing content which has never been released before… And it's entirely free." – ABC
Manager, agent, promoter, editor, journalist, producer, illustrator – there's hardly a field in the entertainment world, Allan hasn't worked in. He's credited as one of the first agents to work out multi-date touring circuits, a given in today's live entertainment business. – Gideon Gottfried Pollstar
What gave Withers’ music its distinctive flavour was his background. The 20th century had many brilliant songwriters who were raised black and urban, white and rural or white and urban, but Withers was one of very few who were raised black and rural. – Geoffrey Himes, Paste
As the world implodes from coronavirus and no one’s left the house in a month, music fans in staggering numbers have found comfort by tuning in to Instagram Live and watching Gen X hip-hop/R&B producers playing their hits from their laptops and ragging on each other in the comments section. – August Brown, Los Angeles Times
AP Dhillon smashing his guitar at Coachella
The Punjabi-Canadian star has faced backlash in Indian media and on social media for his guitar smash on weekend one, but the festival says he's cancelling due to scheduling conflicts.
AP Dhillon is leaving the California desert behind. Coachella announced that the Punjabi-Canadian star will not appear at the festival's second weekend as planned, citing scheduling conflicts. The festival announced it in a follow up tweet to one announcing that rapper Kid Cudi has been added.
While Dhillon's first-weekend performance was well-received by the Coachella crowd and many of his supporters, he's also had some backlash due to how he closed his set, which has been widely covered by media in India.
The artist finished his performance by smashing his guitar on stage.
Some fans have invoked India's cultural reverence for musical instruments, criticizing Dhillon's rockstar move as a sign of disrespect and arrogance.
"The guitar that has provided you with life, love, peace, success and respect- you end up breaking it!" reads one popular comment on Dhillon's post featuring footage of the smash.
In a subsequent post, Dhillon shared photos of his tribute to the late Sidhu Moose Wala, with the caption "the media is controlled and I'm out of control." The last slide of the post features footage of Kurt Cobain smashing his guitar, linking Dhillon's move to a longstanding rock and roll tradition.
If guitar-smashing has a long lineage in rock and roll, so does criticism of the move. Phoebe Bridgers faced backlash in 2021 for breaking her guitar on Saturday Night Live, while even some notable guitar-smashers are now critical of their former selves. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea tweeted his regrets shortly after Dhillon's Coachella set.
Fans who are disappointed to miss Dhillon's second Coachella performance can take some solace in his recent collaboration with U.K. Grime artist Stormzy, until there's more news of upcoming performances.
