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FYI

Cam Carpenter Captures Day 1 At CMW

With spring finally arriving in Toronto, and after a quick pint at The Tiki Bar above The Bovine, I headed over to The Phoenix for the opening night party. It was gratifying to see a glowstick drum solo, a keytar and confetti cannons before 8 PM, compliments of local indie rockers Goodnight, Sunrise.

Cam Carpenter Captures Day 1 At CMW

By Cam Carpenter

CMW Day One -  It was quiet at the Sheraton on day one of CMW, but I did run into the ever-affable Rick Fenton (Gypsy Soul Records) at registration picking up wristbands for his roster of talent.


With spring finally arriving in Toronto, and after a quick pint at The Tiki Bar above The Bovine, I headed over to The Phoenix for the opening night party. It was gratifying to see a glowstick drum solo, a keytar and confetti cannons before 8 PM compliments of local indie rockers Goodnight, Sunrise. 
 
Thanks to Lisa Zbitnew of The Phoenix there was an opening night party where I ran into Inside Pocket's Dan Hand and artist Havelin, Matt & Kim manager Kevin Patrick, Front Row Centre's Kevin Goodman, A Girl With A Camera`s Pat Blythe, Universal`s Jon Box, CMW`s John Kastner, Neill Dixon and Cameron Wright, actors Jessica Pare and Barb Mamabolo, director Rob Stefaniuk local artists Charlie the Kid and Phantom Atlantic and Bovine owner Darryl Fine.
 
Toronto's Monowhales, hot on the heels of their new single "Real Love." proved they were ready for the big stage as they wowed the packed house with their energetic set and were the perfect openers for Brooklyn's Matt & Kim who closed their most recent tour on a very high note at The Phoenix.
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Babbulicious at Zohran Mamdani's inauguration in New York City on Jan. 1, 2026.

Babbulicious at Zohran Mamdani's inauguration in New York City on Jan. 1, 2026.

FYI

Music Biz Headlines: Universal Music Buys a Stake in India’s Excel Entertainment, Canadian Artist Babbulicious Plays Zohran Mamdani's Inauguration

Also this week: Wolf Parade’s Spencer Krug on Heated Rivalry mania, late Beatlemania takes over Toronto, Daniel Caesar encores on Tiny Desk and more.

As 2026 gets under way, the headlines are emerging, including the demise (and grassroots resurrection) of MTV, potential legal action by Ashley MacIsaac against Google and some interesting moves by Universal Music Group.

Read these stories and more in this week's roundup of music biz headlines of the week from Canada and beyond.

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