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BILLBOARD CANADA FYI
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Céline Dion
FYIBillboard Canada
Music Biz Headlines: Is Celine Dion Planning Her Live Comeback?
Also this week: Drake and Kendrick remains a topic of conversation for multiple hip-hop heavyweights, Drake and Live Nation's new Ottawa venue makes History and more.
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The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake remains a topic for discussion as fellow hip-hop heavyweights Jay-Z and J. Cole weigh in on the beef this week.
Elsewhere, Celine Dion posters in France fuel comeback rumours, Heated Rivalry continues to pay musical dividends and more music biz headlines of the week from Canada and beyond.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines
History Ottawa Announces First Shows: The Wallflowers, Marianas Trench, Wolf Parade and More
Located in ByWard Market, the first expansion of the venue partnership between Drake and Live Nation will open in August 2026. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Both editions will contain a fold-out poster, imagery from the series & liner notes from show creator Jacob Tierney. – Keith Caulfield,advertisement
Melissa Auf der Maur on Courtney Love, Billy Corgan and Surviving ’90s Alt-Rock
The bassist’s memoir, ‘Even the Good Girls Will Cry,’ explores her time in Hole, Smashing Pumpkins and more. – Janet Sommerville, Toronto Star
‘Extreme Loss’: Nova Scotia Venues Expect to Feel the Pressure of Cuts to Arts and Culture
The Nova Scotia government is gutting the arts sector. Here’s how some venues are affected. – Brendyn Creamer, The Coast
Hayley Gene Penner, Writer on Lily Allen’s West End Girl, up for Junos Songwriter Award
Hayley Gene Penner was a kid the first time she held a Juno Award. It was one of her father’s. – Kristjan Lautens, Canadian Press
Steve’s Music Store Permanently Closed Toronto Location on Sunday
After 47 years on Queen West, the iconic retailer has shut following a final liquidation, leaving only its Montreal flagship in operation. After a massive liquidation that started last month, the legendary Queen Street West storefront shut down for good at the end of business on Sunday. – David Friend, Toronto Star
Sombr, Gims, Alessia Cara and More Announced for Festival Fono 2026
From the people behind megafest FEQ, Fono returns to the University of Laval campus in Quebec City from Sept. 10-12 for its third edition. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
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Meet Vancouver's new Superduo, True Mountain Laurel
Acclaimed Vancouver singer-songwriters Haley Blais and Sam Lynch have accomplished solo careers, with two albums to each of their names. And, if you grouped their fans in a Venn diagram, it would likely be a circle. – Nathan Caddell, Georgia Straight
Wavelength Music wants people to think more about a small yet vital part of the city’s indie scene: grassroots live music spaces. This past weekend, the non-profit arts platform hosted its first-ever conference, held in conjunction with its annual winter festival of concerts. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Price Cap Could Backfire, Ticket Sellers Warn Ford
Ontario's plan to crack down on what Premier Doug Ford calls resale “ripoffs” on sports and concert tickets by capping prices at face value is raising questions about unintended consequences. – Rob Ferguson, Toronto Star
Musicians for Water Rallies Voices for Clean Water
A March 25 benefit concert for the northern GTA will feature acoustic performances by Burlington’s Sarah Harmer, Serena Ryder and Metric's Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw. – Jason Allen, Hamilton City Magazine
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Indigenous Musical Heavyweights Went to Six Nations on Saturday
The March 21 concert in Ohsweken near Hamilton was designed to support the new Haudenosaunee arts and culture centre. Performers included Logan Staats and Derek Miller. – J.P. Antonacci, Hamilton Spectator
International Music Biz Headlines
Jay-Z Reveals Why He Thinks the Drake & Kendrick Lamar Feud Went ‘Too Far’
"I don't know if battling needs to be part of the culture anymore," Hov added. – Michael Saponara, Billboard
J. Cole Was ‘Disgusted’ by How People Tried to Discredit Drake After Kendrick Lamar BeefCole's full interview with Cam'ron drops later this week, in which they also address Cam filing a lawsuit against Cole. – Angel Diaz, BillboardIs Celine Dion Planning Comeback Concerts in Paris? Posters Are Fueling Rumours
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The icon's performances have been limited for years amid her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard
In his first newspaper interview after fathering a child outside his marriage, Grohl discusses his changed outlook, his grief for Taylor Hawkins, and the 430 therapy sessions he’s had. – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian
Bruce Springsteen to Play ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ Protest Song at No Kings Rally in St. Paul
Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers will also be on hand at Saturday's (March 28) event. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
The Lyrics to Lola by the Kinks Are Gross – I Was Really Taken Aback’: Moby’s Honest Playlist
The DJ and multi-instrumentalist thinks Donna Summer still sounds like the future, but which ‘unevolved’ Kinks staple can he no longer stomach? –The Guardian
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