Music Biz Headlines, July 21, 2022

By Kerry Doole

Supreme Court nixes double royalties for streaming, downloading music online

Songwriters are entitled to just one royalty – not two – when their music is streamed or downloaded through an online service, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled. The top court’s decision Friday clarifies the meaning of a Canadian copyright law provision dealing with communication of a work to the public online. Canada ushered in the provision after signing on to an international treaty. – CP

Why was The Weeknd’s concert called off in Toronto? The doors to Rogers Centre wouldn’t open

The Weeknd’s hometown concert – the first on his highly anticipated After Hours Til Dawn tour – was called off at the last minute because of the widespread Rogers network outage that day. The tour later opened in Philadelphia. – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail

From travel woes to inflation, music festivals face most unpredictable summer yet

Organizers at Canada’s summer music festivals say even as pandemic restrictions lift and live concerts return to some semblance of normalcy, it’s anything but normal behind the scenes. The people leading the country’s largest music gatherings are facing a long list of anxieties – from travel delays to Covid illnesses – that have made putting together a festival even more tumultuous, costly and unpredictable. – Brad Wheeler & Marsha Lederman, Globe and Mail

Hallelujah, we have a Leonard Cohen documentary that embraces the icon

Opens in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal theatres July 15 Reflecting in 1986 on his so-so music career, the poet/novelist/troubadour Leonard Cohen suggested the best was yet to come, even if he might not be around to see it. “I feel I have a huge posthumous career ahead of me,” he told Rolling Stone’s Larry (Ratso) Sloman. “My estate will swell; my name will flourish.” – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Burna Boy, Alvvays, the 1975 and renforshort: Here are 7 new tracks you need to hear

Plus new music from Four Tet, Panda Bear and Brent Faiyaz. – Staff, Toronto Star

Tami Neilson’s heartfelt duet with Willie Nelson

Neilson wrote ‘Beyond The Stars’ for her dad but it’s taken on new meaning since singing it with the country legend, Graham Rockingham writes. – Hamilton Spectator

Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters says he’s ‘far, far, far more important’ than Drake, The Weeknd

Roger Waters, 78, is currently touring North America with his This is Not a Drill arena show, a politically charged spectacle presented in the round. The British rock legend and former Pink Floyd front man talked to The Globe and Mail via Zoom about hope, his complete ignorance of the Weeknd and being literally spitting mad. – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail

On Our Radar: Toronto music veteran C.Ross reinvents himself in dramatic fashion on "Wrong Side of the Sky"

As résumés go, it’s an impressive one—the kind that suggests some people do music as a hobby, and others do it because they on some level have to. While C.Ross’s video for “Wrong Side of the Sky” is the reason we’re gathered here today, the man known to Torontonions as Chad Ross has something of a history in the North American underground. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight 

Don’t fear the reaper, just keep on playing: Blue Coupe hits up El Mocambo, C asbah, this month

Legacy rock trio Blue Coupe performs some of the better known hits of Blue Oyster Cult and Alice Cooper Band, and also some originals.  – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star

Halifax roots-folk duo Mama's Broke are back with album Narrow Line

Two local gigs supporting a new album happened last weekend. – Morgan Mullin, The Coast 

Montreal faces the music at this year’s International Jazz Festival

The longer you wander around Montreal’s downtown core at the height of its summer festival season, the more you realize this is a city built for music, and a city built by music. – Paul Wells, The Globe and Mail

Ambivalent about the spotlight, anders accepts that fans want to feel part of his journey

If deservedly hyped Toronto rapper anders has learned anything during what’s been a rapid ascent, it’s that stepping outside of one’s comfort is part of the game. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

From country to hip hop to electronic pop, K-Days' stages full of music from all genres — and drag, too!

With that candyfloss swirl of familiar sights, tastes and sounds — the K-Days midway is back in full force at the Edmonton Expo Exhibition Grounds. – Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Journal

Salvadoran-Canadian songwriter Lil América has followed her passion for music

New album “Courage. Music. Healing” draws on her experience as an immigrant. – Beatriz Baleeiro, The Hamilton Spectator

Review: Melissa Stylianou featuring Gene Bertoncini & Ike Strum: Dream Dancing (Anzic)

Canadian vocalist Melissa Stylianou, guitarist Gene Bertoncini, and bassist Ike Sturm make for a canorous combination. A working trio elevated by keen conversational rapport and an embrace of spur-of-the-moment suggestions, theirs is quite simply a perfect partnership on this album of old favorites. – Bydan Bilawsky, JazzTimes

Renforshort’s ‘Dear Amelia’ is an open letter on mental health

The rawness of renforshort’s lyrics allows people to examine not only how she feels but how they feel as well. – Demar Grant, Toronto Star

International

Without buying a catalog Hipgnosis Songs Fund grew in value by $140M

On July 14, Hipgnosis Songs Fund published its full-year financial results for the 12 months to end of March. What was particularly interesting about the UK-listed entity in the second half of its latest fiscal year? It didn’t spend a single penny on catalogs. – Tim Ingham, MBW

Snapchat brings chatting and video calling to the web

Snapchat features like snapping, chatting, and video calling are coming to desktop through a new web app, marking the first time the company has made its service available beyond smartphones. With Snapchat for Web, you can log in with your Snapchat account and send private messages or call friends on desktop.” – The Verge

Believe CEO accuses majors of lobbying streaming plaforms to lower royalty rates for DIY artists 

Are the major record companies trying to pressure music streaming services to pay DIY artists lower royalty rates than those received by established superstars? According to Believe boss Denis Ladegaillerie, yes, they are. – Murray Stassen, MBW

Giveon’s ‘Give or Take’ makes heartbreak enjoyable

Giveon is a hopeless romantic. That could be why his disappointment toward failed relationships has been on full display in his music and is palpable throughout his debut album, “Give or Take.” – Gary Gerard Hamilton, AP

The 50 Best Songs of 2022 (so far)

Our critics choices of favourite tracks released so far in 2022. –  Paste Staff  

Adele 'set to reschedule Las Vegas shows'

Adele is reportedly set to announce rescheduled dates for her Las Vegas residency, and they're expected to be this summer. –  Daily Mail

Steve Lacy: Gemini Rights review – a sumptuous listen

This singular talent goes to the next level with his deliciously languid second solo album. – The Guardian

Kanye West sued for unpaid fees

West is being sued for $7 million  for allegedly failing to pay a production company that worked on his Donda 2 release show and scrapped Coachella performance. – Noise11