Music Biz Headlines: Sarah McLachlan & Alanis Morissette at Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields Fest, 2Pac Murder Verdict
Also this week: Artists speak out against Trump's Lake Ontario renaming bid, insights from RIAA's mid-year report.
Alanis Morissette & Olivia Rodrigo
A week after her passing, country music queen Dolly Parton continues to dominate the international music headlines via a flood of affectionate tributes to a genuinely great artist and human being. Closer to home, Toronto roots-rock veterans Blue Rodeo make major news as one of their classic cuts quickly becomes a rallying cry for Canadians angered by American aggression towards the country. Elsewhere, Nelly Furtado's commercial peak is remembered and Lizzo wins a major lawsuit.
Check these and other stories making the headlines here.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines
The pop singer’s inaugural music festival — heavily inspired by McLachlan’s Lilith Fair — featured special guests including McLachlan, Morissette, Stevie Nicks and more. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
While performing their respective shows in Toronto, the three acts made their stance clear on the U.S. president’s menacing tactics to rename the Great Lake to Lake America. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Dolly Parton Has Died at 80. Inside the Ontario Tribute Scene Determined to Keep Her Spirit Alive
From drag stages to touring shows, local impersonators reflect on how the Queen of Country inspired them on and off stage. – David Friend, Toronto Star
Before Dolly Parton Played the CNE in 1978, She Made a Big Impression on One Toronto Star Writer
Read how the late country superstar won over a local reporter — and see his original story from the archive. – David Friend, Toronto Star
Bryan Adams Honours Terry Fox with New Single 'The Ballad of Terry Fox'
The song is set to appear in the forthcoming documentary Run Terry Run about the heroic Canadian runner, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
As AI-Generated Music Floods Platforms, Canadian Artists Demand Consent, Transparency and Pay
Cadence Weapon never gave artificial intelligence permission to learn from his music. But the Edmonton-raised rapper, born Rollie Pemberton, says he recently found 129 of his songs in datasets used to train AI music generators. He was alarmed, but not surprised. – Alex Nino Gheciu, Canadian Press
This Vintage Pop Stardom episode of 'Greatest Pop Stars' looks at Furtado's year of Billboard chart domination, an '00s nostalgia bomb the likes of which we don't get anymore. – Andrew Unterberger, Billboard
How Angine de Poitrine’s Global Success Benefits its Friends at Home in Quebec
The duo has made sure that the lucrative mechanics of capitalizing on the band’s buzz falls to companies based in their earthly home of Quebec . – Martin Patriquin, Globe & Mail
Drake Previews His Version of Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas'
The Toronto rapper put an R&B spin on the chart-topping country music hit featuring his own vocals and played it in Toronto this weekend. Drake recently appeared at Langley's Arkansas concert, fuelling rumours of a potential collab. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Drake Plays a Surprise Performance With Don Toliver in Toronto
The rapper debuted "Shabang," "Burning Bridges" and "Janice STFU" live during a surprise appearance at Don Toliver's Toronto show on his Octane world tour last night (Aug. 30). "This is my first time performing the album since it dropped, so thank you for being here," Drake told the crowd. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Toronto's First Class Fest Revamps Lineup After 'Heartwrenching' Last-Minute Artist Cancellations
OsamaSon will now play both days of the Toronto underground rap festival (Aug. 28-29), which has added Xaviersobased, ApolloRed1 and 1oneam to the bill after Nettspend, Che and more have dropped out. "It's been the craziest 24 hours of my life," co-founder Leo Strang tells Billboard Canada. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Toronto Symphony Orchestra Takes its Music Beyond Downtown Toronto in new $2.3M Deal
The five-year partnership with 407 ETR will expand concerts and music education in Brampton, Markham and Scarborough. – Toronto Star
The Ty Dolla $ign-featuring track from Miller’s 2016 album The Divine Feminine is No. 1 on the platform's top 10 songs in the country this summer. The list includes tracks from Drake, Miguel, Malcolm Todd and more. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
International Music Biz Headlines
"The family of Tupac Amaru Shakur is elated and relieved by today's verdict," the family of the late rapper said. – Alicia Urrea, Billboard
Streaming remains the largest revenue driver, having grown by 4.7% to $4.9 billion. – Ariel King, Billboard
How Korea Built The World's Most Successful Pop Machine
Today, the Korean music industry punches far above its weight relative to its market size and population and has become an established global phenomenon. But how did they do it? How did K-Pop become an international juggernaut? The answer involves a combination of creative, market and strategic factors and decisions. – Mark Frieser, Synchtank
Lizzo Wins Ruling Dismissing Tour Staffer’s Harassment and Discrimination Lawsuit
Asha Daniels claimed she faced a "culture of racism and bullying" while working on Lizzo's tour, but a judge now says she can't prove it. – Bill Donahue, Billboard
The Meta Settlement Will Put Limits on Instagram for Teens. They’re Still Vulnerable
Child safety groups and former Meta employees welcome proposed changes to how the company’s platforms will work for teens. They also think states should have demanded more. –Paresh Dave and Lauren Goode, Wired‘Faith Tour’ Concert Film Trailer Captures George Michael at His Peak: Watch
Capturing previously unseen film documenting the singer's landmark 1988 tour, "The Faith Tour" is due out in cinemas from Nov. 6. – Lars Brandle, Billboard
Lionel Richie Hospitalized in ICU After Struggling to Finish Concert
'Some things have been happening on this tour that kind of shook me up a little bit'. – Mark Daniell, Postmedia
Miley Cyrus Announces ‘Vulnerable’ New Album ‘Bass Persuades’ Along With Hollywood Bowl Shows
"It's been a while," the singer wrote of her upcoming performances. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard
- Olivia Rodrigo Recruits Alanis Morissette for a Surprise ‘Ironic’ Duet ›
- Olivia Rodrigo’s New Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival Was ‘Directly Inspired’ by Sarah McLachlan and Lilith Fair ›
- Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette Celebrate Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields: ‘When Women and the Feminine Leads’ ›
