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Mike Highfield
Former Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke speaking on State of the Industry panel at Departure at Toronto's Hotel X on May 8, 2025.
FYI
Music Biz Headlines: Trump's Pardon of Tim Leiweke Affects Live Nation Antitrust Case, 'Heated Rivalry' Boosts Canadian Bands
This week: Three Days Grace's formidable chart feat, Hamilton's heated resale market and more.
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It's been a busy music biz news week, despite the industry approaching holiday hibernation. In the week following Donald Trump's pardoning of OVG head Tim Leiweke, there continues to be fallout. Meanwhile, the Folk Music Ontario conference is renamed, the National Arts Centre makes a promotion and Netflix acquires Warner Bros..
Read these stories and more in this week's roundup of the music biz headlines of the week from Canada and beyond.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines
Trump’s Pardon of Tim Leiweke Throws Wrench Into DOJ’s Live Nation Antitrust Case
The pardon came just one day before the ex-Oak View Group chief's deposition in the U.S. DOJ's Live Nation case, where he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right in response to government questions. – Dave Brooks, Billboard
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‘Heated Rivalry’ Synchs Lead to Big Gains for Feist, Wolf Parade, Wet Leg & More Indie Favourites
The queer-themed Canadian hockey romance show is slowly infiltrating American pop culture. – Kyle Denis & Jason Lipshutz, Billboard
Folk Music Ontario Conference Renamed to Folk Canada Conference
The conference has a new name that represents the organization's new national focus. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
How This Veteran Canadian Rocker and ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ TV Star is Keeping the Music Savage
‘Even in our worst shape, we could still deliver,’ says Hugh Dillon of the Headstones, playing Toronto on Friday with the Tea Party and Finger Eleven. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Canadian Band Three Days Grace Becomes Second Act With 20 Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s
"Kill Me Fast" is the rockers’ third No. 1 in a row, all earned in 2025. The band’s first 10 leaders were with frontman Adam Gontier, followed by seven with his replacement vocalist, Matt Walst, before the most recent three that sport both singers after Gontier rejoined the group. – Billboard
Montreal Concert Promoter Rubin Fogel Still Booking After 50 Years
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From the first concert with Keith Jarrett Quartet at Salle Claude Champagne, he went on to book thousands of acts, and he has no intention of retiring anytime soon. – Bill Brownstein, Montreal Gazette
National Arts Centre Promotes Communications Exec Annabelle Cloutier to CEO, President
The National Arts Centre has appointed a longtime communications executive to its top post. – Canadian Press
Alberta Hip-hop, R&B Artists Join for Ambitious Afro-fusion Album Called LYFE
3rd Verse Records, a Calgary studio and cultural hub has launched LYFE (Lost Yesterday, Found Eternity), a 12-track album featuring 19 Alberta musicians and two spoken-word artists that mixes R&B, hip-hop and Afrobeats. – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald
Not even the voices of this young Canadian cast can save Ben Elton’s nonsensical futuristic musical. –Joshua Chong, Toronto Star
Hamilton’s Tom Wilson Opens up About Sobriety Journey at Wayside Event
Junkhouse musician joins Steve Paikin and addictions experts to discuss recovery — and Wayside’s push to expand services. – Hamilton Spectator
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The vocalist known as Grindmother became a viral sensation in 2015 after screaming on her son’s record. – Liisa Ladoceour, Toronto Star
$15K for Andrea Bocelli? Hamilton’s Resale Ticket Market Runs Wild
Still looking for tickets for Andrea Bocelli? Prepare to pony up. The international phenomenon is making his only Canadian stop on his current tour in Hamilton on Dec. 9, and that means seating is at a premium and high-priced.– Demar Grant, The Spectator
Two Veteran Hamilton/Niagara Broadcasters Enter News Partnership
CHCH-TV and 1150 CKOC will work together to bring more local news to radio listeners in the Hamilton, Halton, Brantford and Niagara regions. As of Dec. 8, the CHCH Evening News at 6PM will be carried live on 1150 CKOC each weekday. – Hamilton City Magazine
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International Biz Headlines
This isn't the first time that global politics have affected the famed song contest, which was founded in 1956.At least four countries boycott 2026 Eurovision after Israel cleared to stay in contest. – Paul Grein, Billboard
Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in $72 Billion Deal
The deal, which values Warner and its assets at $82.7 billion, is expected to close in late 2026 pending regulatory approval. – Marc Schneider, Billboard/
Buying Warner Bros. Gives Netflix What It’s Always Needed: An Identity: Opinion
The $83 billion deal gives the streamer a century’s worth of prestige television and movies, from Batman movies to Game of Thrones. It also ends the streaming wars.– Angela Waterutter, Wired
Coordinated Online Attack Sought to Suggest Taylor Swift Promoted Nazi Ideas, Research Finds
Thousands of social media posts were traced to deliberate attempts to misrepresent the singer – and showed ‘significant user overlap’ with the campaign to attack actor Blake Lively. – Laura Snapes, The Guardian
Bob Vylan to Sue Ireland’s RTÉ for Defamation Over Glastonbury Coverage
Legal action alleges Irish broadcaster defamed group by claiming they led antisemitic chants at festival in June. – Rory Carroll, The Guardian
Diljit Dosanjh Revisits the Life of Punjabi Music Icon Chamkila in New Netflix Documentary
The short behind-the-scenes film explores Dosanjh’s preparation for the biopic Amar Singh Chamkila and revisits the late singer’s enduring cultural legacy. – Peony Hirwani, Billboard Canada
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