Music Biz Headlines, Nov. 8, 2021

By Kerry Doole

‘Mayor of Kingstown’ creator Hugh Dillon says show was inspired by his hometown

Set to debut on November 14, Mayor of Kingstown is looking to be another exciting crime drama. We’ve been receiving a drip of information regarding it lately and one particularly interesting fact is the show is inspired by the creator’s hometown. Fascinatingly enough, one of the creators, Hugh Dillon, said the setting is based on his childhood town of Kingston, Ontario. – Michael Freeman, Outsider

Church-going shitkickers add fuel to the argument that B.C.'s live-music Covid-19 requirements are f###ed

As everyone who’s lived in British Columbia for any extended amount of time is keenly aware, this province is—for all of its natural charms—quite frequently fucked where big decisions are concerned. Here's another example. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

History, Drake’s new concert hall, joins other new and revitalized Toronto venues opening post-pandemic

Toronto’s about to make History. Now that the province of Ontario has lifted pandemic restrictions affecting live venues, History, the new Live Nation-owned, Drake-associated concert hall is finally opened its doors Sunday with a concert by Bleachers. You can bet the Canadian concert giant is breathing a sigh of relief. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

JazzYYC Canadian Festival to feature Calgary's top artists

Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida used music to find each other again

Ask Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida how the last two years have gone, it’s actually supremely cute the way they circle around each other looking for a unified answer. – Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Journal

SSO's Beethoven's 5th features debut of 16-year-old Saskatoon pianist

"As a kid, whenever I went to a symphony concert, I was like, 'I want to do that someday.' And I actually get to do it." – Amanda Short, Star-Phoenix

Weekend Playlist: Snail Mail returns to form, plus more music you need to hear

This week’s playlist features new music from Snail Mail, Arca, Terrace Martin, Megan Thee Stallion, Connan Mockasin and Charli XCX. – Richie Assaly, Toronto Star

After pandemic pause, Nova Scotia Music Week focuses on rebuilding the industry

 Nova Scotia Music Week 2021 in Truro had a different kind of feel on the weekend, as musicians played for masked audiences and attendees kept their proof of vaccination cards and phone QR codes handy as they moved from hotel ballrooms to the local bars and other venues. – Stephen Cooke, Chronicle-Herald

30 years ago today: Tom Cochrane plays the Orpheum Theatre 6 weeks after releasing "Life Is a Highway"

On November 4, 1991--Tom Cochrane played the Orpheum Theatre on his Mad Mad World Tour. Six weeks earlier he'd released a video/single called "Life Is a Highway" that would become a stone cold Canuck-rock classic, and make everybody forget about Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69" for a while. Maybe you were there? – Steve Newton, Georgia Straight

International

Live Nation revenues soar to $2.7BN in Q3

MBW reports: “Rapino noted in his letter to shareholders that summer concerts season “rebounded quickly” in 2021, with 17 million fans attending Live Nation shows across Q3, “as the return to live reflected tremendous pent-up demand.” – Digital Media Wire

How hits by Drake, Ye & more get released before songwriter pay splits are settled

Over the past few months, some of music’s biggest stars have released No. 1 projects on the Billboard 200 chart without determining the final percentages each songwriter owns on all the album’s tracks. Among them, Kanye West’s Donda, two Olivia Rodrigo’s hit singles good 4 u and deja vu, and Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. – Kristin Robinson, Billboard

Warner launches Atlantic Records Benelux

Warner Music is launching Atlantic Records Benelux, which the company says will be dedicated to discovering and promoting emerging domestic hip-hop artists from across the Benelux region. Atlantic Records Benelux will be led by Sander Stijnen as Head of A&R, and Ixia Verdooren as Head of Domestic Marketing. – MBW

At least 8 dead and many injured after crowd surge at Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival in Houston

At least eight people are dead and many others were injured after a crowd surged forward as rapper Travis Scott was on stage at the Astroworld Festival in Houston on Friday night, officials said. About 50,000 people were at the sold-out outdoor music festival at NRG Park. – CNN

Travis Scott responds to the Astroworld tragedy

Houston-born Scott said he would support the police as they investigate the incident and wanted to help the community heal. “I’m absolutely devastated by what took place last night. My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival,” Scott wrote on Twitter. “Love You All.” – Reuters

Travis Scott & Live Nation sued over 'predictable' Astroworld tragedy

An injured concertgoer claims the festival disaster was the result of “a motivation for profit at the expense of concertgoers’ health and safety” and the “encouragement of violence." –  BillDonahue, Billboard

New songs are the driving force for invigorated Bob Dylan in Auditorium Theatre concert

Irascible at any age, Dylan said precious little during his Wednesday night concert in Chicago. He simply walked onstage and began playing songs, introducing new ones and subverting his classics. – Jeff Elbel, Chicago Sun-Times 

Singer Lionel Richie signs deal with Universal Music Publishing

Music star Lionel Richie has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the company said last week. The deal includes some of the biggest hits the Grammy Award winner has written during his solo career. – Reuters

Swann sues Van Morrison over ‘dangerous’ chant at Europa Hotel

Northern Ireland’s Minister of Health Robin Swnn is suing  Van Morrison after the singer branded him “very dangerous” over his handling of Covid-19 restrictions. The legal action focuses on a high-profile incident at the Europa Hotel in Belfast in the summer when Mr Morrison, a vocal lockdown critic, took to stage and criticised Robin Swann. – Irish Times

Inside Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz’s oceanside mansion

Today AD brings you to sunny La Jolla, California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean to tour the art-filled, modernist home of superstar couple Alicia Keys and Kasseem Dean (a.k.a. Swizz Beatz.) A stunning cliffside mansion by architectural designer Wallace E. Cunningham, Kasseem had the multi-level "Razor House" as his phone’s screen saver for 8 years, waiting for a day when the stars would align. – Architectural Digest

Marilyn Manson’s accusers detail his alleged abuse. ‘He’s so much worse than his persona’

For three decades, goth rock singer Marilyn Manson reveled in his image as the ultimate pop-culture villain. In a U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles, the British-born actor Esmé Bianco is waging a legal battle to prove that his menacing persona was all too real. – August Brown, Los Angeles Times

8 new albums you should listen to now: Snail Mail, Summer Walker, and more

Also stream new releases from Model Home, Dijon, Hana Vu, Darius Jones, Doran, and Mortiferum. – Allison Hussey and Madison Bloom, Pitchfork

Mariah Carey’s new Christmas song is a crime against humanity and torture for all species of this world

This month, a sign taped to the jukebox at a Dallas restaurant went viral. In all-caps, with tactical underlining, it read: “MARIAH CAREY’S ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU WILL BE SKIPPED IF PLAYED BEFORE DEC 1. AFTER DEC 1 THE SONG IS ONLY ALLOWED ONE TIME A NIGHT.” – Vinay Menon, Toronto Star

Kraftwerk inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

"What Kraftwerk did was groundbreaking and revolutionary." – Elizabeth Aubrey, NME

‘How politically committed am I? I’m Billy Bragg, for Chrissakes’

Q&A with the singer-songwriter on causing trouble, wanting to be a cosmonaut and keeping cynicism at bay. – Billy Bragg, FT

Jethro Tull to release first album in 23 years

In 2022 Jethro Tull will release The Zealot Gene, their first album (not counting the 2003 Christmas album) in 23 years. – Noise11