Music Biz Headlines, Dec. 6, 2021
The Massey Hall triumph of Mustafa (pictured), a plethora of Seasonal concerts, and the making of the new Blue Rodeo album. Also in the headlines are End X Music, Corb Lund, David James Allen, New Vision, box sets, Spotify, Hipgnosis, UTA, John Lurie, Sly Stone, The Doors, ABBA, and Prince William.
By Kerry Doole
Christmas concerts across the country offer Hawksley Workman, Andy Kim and all the Messiahs you can handle
Given that most holiday concerts a year ago were virtual-only presentations because of the pandemic, a return to in-person shows this year merits all the hark, hallelujahs and holly jollies that can be mustered. The following list of select concerts across the country reveals a breadth of seasonal styles and settings, from Hawksley Workman to Molly Johnson, from Andy Kim to Carly Rae Jepsen, and from symphonic Home Alone soundtracks to so many Messiahs. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Blue Rodeo on the making of new album ‘Many a Mile’
‘Everybody was willing to let go of how everything was before and it was really great.’ – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star
Alanis Morissette announces rescheduled Jagged Little Pill dates for Europe & The UK
The Canadian singer-songwriter has announced the rescheduled itinerary for her previously postponed UK and European tour dates. The tour marks the 25th anniversary of her hit album, Jagged Little Pill and was originally planned for the Fall of 2020 and then pushed back to start in October 2021 before being postponed again due to Covid-19. – Celebrity Access
Donovan Woods & Michelle Szeto found a new record label
Naming your new record label End X Music (End Times Music) amidst an ongoing pandemic reveals a rather dark sense of humour, as the independent imprint’s co-creator Donovan Woods acknowledges. “The name came up during the pandemic, but the idea for the label preceded it,” says the acclaimed Toronto-based songsmith. – Kerry Doole, SOCAN Words & Music
Review: Mustafa’s Massey Hall concert was a beautiful moment
Not many Toronto artists get to play their first hometown headlining concert at Massey Hall. There, the Regent Park singer/songwriter took the audience on a journey of collective mourning. – Richard Trapunski, NOW
David James Allen finds a new home at Catherine North Studio
The rootsy songsmith first heard of Catherine North Studios when he was in his early 20s studying communications at Brock University. City and Colour, Leslie Feist, Broken Social Scene, The Trews, Kathleen Edwards and Gord Downie had recorded there. He dreamed of one day recording his own songs there, and that dream became reality recently. – Graham Rockingham, Hamilton Spectator
Electrifying, visceral and deeply emotional: this ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ aims to deliver the ‘wow factor’
For the “Superstar” company in Toronto, the focus remains on delivering the show, which goes back to the origins of the material in the now legendary 1970 concept album. – Karen Fricker, Toronto Star
Corb Lund addresses Vancouver ticket complaint, adds third WISE Hall show on Jan. 19
A week ago, we posted a blog about a Corb Lund fan who was upset that he couldn't get tickets to the Canadian country star's upcoming shows at Vancouver's WISE Hall on January 20 and 21. Lund has explained, and announced a third date. – Steve Newton, Georgia Straight
‘Every artist feels cut off from their fan base’
How Canadians have embraced Georgia-born country singer Katie Pruitt as one of their own. In 2020, she collaborated with Juno winner Donovan Woods on a track off his album “Without People” and just finished up a six-show stint opening for Dallas Green on his latest tour as City and Colour. – Hayden Godfrey, Toronto Star
Super-deluxe box sets for the music freak on your Xmas list
If there's someone on your Christmas list who's a Beatles or a Stones fan--or, better yet, a Beatles and a Stones fan--then here's a couple of primo gift-giving options. – Steve Newton, Georgia Straight
After break for 'social mission' during Covid, New Vision church closes in on launch of music venue
'By September 2023 we will have all of the bells and whistles done,' team member of the Hamilton project says. – CBC
As Rehearsal Factory closes buildings, Toronto faces a practice space crisis
Two of the city's busiest music rehearsal buildings are set to close and a third's future is in the hands of a megachurch. – Richard Trapunski, NOW
International
Major record companies are losing market share on Spotify
But Spotify is gaining market share in Warner's own revenues. The major record companies still dominate Spotify, but that dominance is lessening as the market share of DIY artists and (non-Merlin) indies grows. But what about the other way around? – MBW
Artists boycott Spotify as CEO invests €100m in AI defense tech: “It’s a complete contradiction of our music philosophy”
Artists are taking to social media to call on their fans to unsubscribe from the streaming service. – MusicTech
Song rights pioneer Hipgnosis faces uphill battle to keep the music playing
Despite the unease, investors remain enamoured by the potential of the music streaming story and Hipgnosis’ position within the market. –The Telegraph
UTA launches $200M SPAC to pursue video game acquisitions
Former Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aimé will chair the new blank-check company. – Diane Haithman, The Wrap
United Masters Exec on how to distribute and monetize music
We sit down with Dave Melhado, UnitedMasters’ Head of Marketing, to talk mobile music distribution, monetization, and how UnitedMasters is changing the game for independent artists. – Rutger Ansley Rosenborg, Hypebot
‘A nation’s fabric unravelling’: stars on Sly Stone’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On at 50
Musicians from Nile Rodgers to Johnny Marr, Moor Mother and Booker T Jones discuss Sly and the Family Stone’s drug-fuelled landmark in US social commentary. – Dave Simpson, The Guardian
Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger: ‘The music will outlast the crazy Jim stuff’
In the musician’s new memoir, he aims to tell the true, uncensored story of one of the greatest bands of all time while dispelling some long-running myths. – Jim Farber, The Guardian
New books about music -John Lurie
Will future generations discover John Lurie? It’s not entirely clear whether his contemporaries did. On the one hand, The New Yorker dubbed the musician/actor/painter the “Humphrey Bogart of the Eighties." – The New York Times
Virgil Abloh designed way more than clothing
The late designer leaves a genuinely fascinating trail of objects, from Evian bottles to Mercedes trucks to hip-hop album covers. – Sam Reiss, GQ
ABBA takes cover band Abba Mania to court over use of its name
The Swedish pop supergroup ABBA on Friday filed a lawsuit to stop a British cover band known as Abba Mania from using that name. In a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, lawyers for ABBA accused Abba Mania’s managers of “parasitic and bad-faith conduct” by trading off ABBA’s goodwill and cachet in promoting Abba Mania. – Reuters
Prince William says ‘nothing better’ than listening to AC/DC’s heavy rock music
With his sensible suits, carefully-planned public appearances and status as a future king, he does not bear any obvious hallmarks of a rocker. But behind closed doors, the Duke of Cambridge likes nothing more than headbanging to AC/DC on a Monday morning. – The Telegraph
Music critics mock Kenny G's 'safe sax.' But a new documentary will change how you see him
If the Jazz Police began launching midnight raids against musicians who offended their sensibilities, Kenny G would be at the top of their list. But a new documentary film by Penny Lane may lead some of Kenny G's critics to reconsider. – John Blake, CNN
