The Billboard Canada FYI Bulletin: Michael Bublé Booked For 20th Anniversary of Fallsview Casino

– Toronto-based rapper, same as me (Esma Shmeit), recently featured in a Reebok ad, has been named as this year’s Walk of Fame emerging artist that comes with a scholarship program at Metalworks Institute. She has also landed a sync deal with Emmy Award-winning company Bunim/Murray (Keeping Up with The Kardashians). Below is a clip promoting Sweet Dreams, her debut album released recently by Capitol Records.

– Live Nation has announced 16 shows with Neil Young + Crazy Horse, billed as the Love Earth Tour. Toronto’s Budweiser Stage is the lone Canadian show on May 20.

– Registered non-profit organization Women in Music Canada (not to be confused with Billboard Women in Music), launched in 2014 and dedicated to fostering gender equality in the Canadian music industry, has announced its list of nominees in eight categories that are vying for this year’s awards. The winners will be announced at a Women In Music Honours show set for March 5 at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre. Tickets can be purchased here.

– Fallsview Casino, overlooking Niagara’s Horseshoe Falls, is making a big splash with its 20^th anniversary, highlighted by a June 21 appearance by Michael Bublé. No fee is mentioned; however, a Google search turns up an example of fees starting at US$1M. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Feb. 16.

– Feb. 22 marks the official opening of the Deane Cameron Recording Studio, which is housed on the top floor of the 7-story multi-purpose performance facility called The Allied Music Centre, which sits adjacent to Massey Hall. We’ll have specifics as per the opening date.

– Earlier we announced CIMA president Andrew Cash held meetings in Ottawa to emphasize the importance of the Canada Music Fund. In advance, he pressed interested parties to write letters of support. Well, the campaign worked. He went to Capitol Hill armed with 4K letters of support, and described his meetings as effective and “very supportive.”

– Music Canada participated in a House of Commons industry committee studying the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act earlier this week.

Appointments & Signings

Quebec City-based country singer and songwriter Alison Daniels has signed on with 604 Records with her debut “Who, What, Where, When, Why?” released Feb. 9 via Warner Music Canada.

– Victoria-based musician Michael Kaeshammer has just announced the release date for his new album and a new worldwide deal with Seven. One Starwatch/Sony Music Germany. He recently wrapped up what is described as SRO tours in China and Germany and heads back to Germany in May for a theatre tour. He recently signed a touring deal with German event promoter MMP/Starwatch. Meanwhile, Kaeshammer’s Kitchen, his television show fusing music with cooking, has been renewed for its second season, airing on Yes and CHEK stations. Below is his latest video release.

– Secret City Records has named Magali Ould as GM. A former independent publicist, she joined in 2011 and has held various positions with the Montreal-based music company since. In naming her to the role, president/CEO Justin West stated: “Secret City’s tremendous growth, as well as the accelerated pace of the changing market, both bring new challenges and opportunities and drive the need for additional management infrastructure to ensure the relevant parts of the organization continue to function at the highest level. The General Manager role addresses that need and will help unlock our potential for future growth and expansion.”

– The East Coast Music Assoc. has announced Blanche Israël as the new CEO. The Moroccan French Canadian cultural strategist and professional musician has called Dartmouth, N.S. home since 2019. She begins her new role on March 1.