Music Biz Headlines: Canadian Musicians Remember Quincy Jones
Also this week: Taylor Swift's arrival reverberates throughout Canada, AI threats to media, and a possible Gordon Lightfoot museum.
Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones died this week. There are few artists who have touched so many aspects of the music industry, which means tributes have been coming out from all over the map, including from Canadian artists. Read on for more on that, as well as stories on Taylor Swift's arrival in Canada, lessons from Leonard Cohen's early years in Montreal, watching the election from Canada, and much more.
This Week's Canadian Music Headlines
Canadian Musicians Recall Industry Titan Quincy Jones as Mentor, Friend, Family
Oscar Peterson’s youngest daughter remembers “laughter and joy” when her late father spent time with legendary music giant Quincy Jones. – Cassandra Szklarski , Canadian Press
Lindsay Ell Got Lost in Country Music: With a Reset, She’s Learning to Love Herself
The noted singer-guitarist says in hindsight, she never really fit the country music mould. She has just released a new record of confessional alt-pop music. – David Friend, CP
Drake Slams NBA Star DeMar DeRozan on Toronto Raptors Broadcast
"If you ever put up a DeRozan banner, I'll go up there and take it down myself," the rapper said. "He's going to have a long way to climb," the former Raptors player responded. – Richard Trapunski, Billboard Canada
Leonard Cohen's Life Holds Lessons for Westmount High Students
“He became a writer because he didn’t have a choice," Cohen expert Christophe Lebold tells students as he gives a crash course on their school's legendary alumnus. – Bill Brownstein,Montreal Gazette
Jayhawks singer Gary Louris eyes U.S. election from new home in Canada
The co-founding singer-songwriter of the alt-country pioneers the Jayhawks recently moved to Laurentian Mountains, where he lives with his Canadian wife. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Gordon Lightfoot’s Folk Music Legacy Could Still be Honoured With a Hometown Museum
Pam Carter, president of the Mariposa Folk Festival, said local officials in Orillia, Ont., haven’t given up hope that artifacts from the late singer-songwriter’s life may wind up at a dedicated space in the city. – David Friend, CP
Taylor Swift is Disrupting Wedding Dates in Toronto - But Not Everyone is Mad About It
Swift’s two-week, six-concert residency at the Rogers Centre this month is set to transform the city, with fans expected to clog Toronto’s streets, restaurants and, as brides and grooms begrudgingly learned these past few months, hotels. – Josh O'Kane, Globe and Mail
Bev Davies’ Psychedelic Heart, From Jefferson Airplane to the Black Angels
While most rock photographers want decent light with which to capture their subjects, some of Davies’ favourite bands “play in the dark,” says the veteran Vancouver punk photographer. – Allan MacInnis, Georgia Straight
The Mali-Rooted MBOLON African Music Festival is Making its Canadian Debut in Vancouver This Month.
The festival offers two nights that celebrate African music through a vibrant blend of performances and cultural discussions. Combining traditional and contemporary sounds, each night will conclude with a collaborative, improvised finale featuring members from all participating bands. – Vicki Duong, Georgia Straight
Lost Gigs and Lower Pay: How AI is Already Affecting Freelance Artists and Writers
Ever since generative AI applications that produce text, pictures and videos have exploded in both quality and popularity, some creative professionals have become deeply concerned about their livelihoods. – Joe Costaldo, Globe and Mail
International
Los Angeles-based investment firm Shamrock Capital has raised $1.6 billion across two new funds: the Shamrock Capital Growth Fund VI and Shamrock Capital Clover Fund I. The company is best known for buying the master rights to Taylor Swift’s first six studio albums from Ithaca Holdings in 2020 for over $400 million. – Music Business Worldwide
This 75-year-old Vinyl Record Plant is Busier Than Ever
United Record Pressing survived Napster, CDs and 8-tracks and the 75-year-old vinyl record plant is busier than ever as new waves of fans embrace the format. – Associated Press
Along with ABKCO and Concord, the music giant accuses TuneCore and its parent Believe of willfully infringing their copyrights to grow its business in a $500 million complaint. – Billboard
Drugs, Weapons, Electronics Seized During Sweep at Brooklyn Jail Where ‘Diddy’ is Held
Investigators seized drugs, homemade weapons and electronic devices this week during an “interagency operation” aimed at cleaning up the troubled New York City federal jail where Sean “Diddy” Combs is being held, the Bureau of Prisons said. – Michael Balsamo And Michael R. Sisak, AP
Tyler, The Creator Calls Out Swifties For Trying to ‘Cancel’ Him Over Old Lyrics
At the rapper's 30-minute gig in Boston Halloween he said the vitriol from Taylor Swift's fans after he supplanted her on the Spotify Top Artists chart might "bring out the old me." – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
Bruce Springsteen Confronts Mortality in Career-Spanning 'Road Diary' Doc
Director Thom Zimny says new film proof the Boss won't ever quit.– Mark Daniell, Postmedia
‘Our Community Deserves a Global Stage’: How LGBTQ+ Events Like Homobloc are Going Large
The rise of queer music festivals and big outdoor raves has brought visibility and empowerment to a culture once confined to underground clubs. But expansion has led to accusations of selling out. Kate Lloyd, The Guardian
Longtime Primus Drummer Goes on Record About Decision to Leave the Band
"With regard to what I said to the band about 'losing my passion for playing,' I did say that. But I also said: 'All of these tours left me feeling empty. My body hurts constantly." – Ultimate Guitar
