Also this week: Sarah McLachlan lauds Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival, Dolly gets a posthumous sales boost and the curse of cellphones at concerts.
As opening act on a blockbuster Ed Sheeran tour, Macklemore has seized the spotlight and headlines by expressing his pro-Palestinian solidarity onstage. The likes of Pink, Boy George and Jewish lobby groups have responded loudly.
Elsewhere, Drake’s OVO and University of Waterloo collaboration is a hit, an inside look at the new Oasis documentary and Canadian artists eye Eurovision.
Check these and other stories making the headlines here.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the beloved Canadian icon and the pop singer spoke about how Rodrigo’s new music festival is carrying on the spirit of McLachlan’s Lilith Fair. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
In her new photo exhibition at the AGO, the Canadian musician captures a nostalgia for the style and energy of 1990s music culture. – Haley Steinberg, The Globe and Mail
The late country pop icon's compilation album arrives at No. 9 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Plus, three of Parton’s tracks are on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, led by “Jolene.” – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
According to the song contest’s Canadian head of delegation, Jennifer Dettman, bbno$ is a contender ahead of Canada’s inaugural Eurovision entry in 2027, but Angine de Poitrine is not. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
It’s time to break the spell of digital devices, which are damaging the collective experience of musical performances. – The Editorial Board, Globe & Mail
Fans can score exclusive merch and a complimentary drink at RCHIVE on Sept. 10, a day before the Slovak star's first Toronto headline show. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
The biggest week in Nova Scotia’s music scene is fast approaching. From Nov 12-15, artists from across the province will gather in Truro for Nova Scotia Music Week 2026. Here's a look at the scheduled performers. – Brendyn Creamer, The Coast
It’s a perfect storm for scammers: Celine Dion’s long-awaited return to the concert stage has unleashed massive pent-up demand for tickets. – Associated Press
: ‘Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial,'' the "Thrift Shop" rapper declares. P!nk and Boy George have criticized the "Thrift Shop" rapper's statements. Gil Kaufman, Billboard
What is indisputable about AI is its functional capacity. The ability to make a recording has evolved from a technically challenging, expert-enabled art form to being as simple as writing a prompt. – Kriss Thakrar, MIDiA
South Korean police are pushing for an indictment of music tycoon Bang Si-Hyuk, the chairperson of the agency behind K-pop supergroup BTS, over alleged investor fraud. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency referred Bang to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office on Thursday. – Hyung-Jin Kim, AP
On Sept. 1, BMG and Concord confirmed the successful completion of their merger. The transaction, first announced on April 28, 2026, has received “all required regulatory approvals”, according to a press release. The company’s global headquarters will be located in Nashville, with Berlin serving as its European headquarters. Music Business Worldwide
The music star confirmed in August that she’d be taking time out after the conclusion of her live shows, with the final leg being a 10-date run at London’s O2 Arena. – Hilary Fox, AP
Ken Kesey’s school bus — once painted in bright, swirly colors and driven across the country on a psychedelic journey — is back in San Francisco after 60 years as the centerpiece of a new exhibition celebrating the legacy of the Grateful Dead, a band that rose from the city’s famed hippie movement. – Associated Press
The crowds wept and prayed, police used their song lyrics for briefings and a vicar gave a sermon about brotherly forgiveness. The directors of Don’t Look Back in Anger relive their wildest ride ever. – Dave Simpson, The Guardian
The newly published report by STVDIO & Secretly Distribution examines how consolidation, AI licensing, and direct-to-fan have reshaped indie models. – Stvdio / Secretly Distribution
