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FYI

Music Biz Headlines: Coldplay Walk Back Rogers Stadium Comments, Matthew Good Cancels U.S. Tour Dates Due to Trump

Other stories making news this week: Scooter Braun on Justin Bieber's Swag, Quebec legend Serge Fiori is remembered, more on Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke's indictment.

Coldplay at Toronto's Rogers Stadium on July 8, 2025.
Coldplay at Toronto's Rogers Stadium on July 8, 2025.
Anna Lee

After a long absence, Justin Bieber returns to the spotlight , via the surprise release of his seventh album. A prominent lobby group is aiming to block Bob Vylan and Kneecap from playing Canada over Israel comments. Russ caused controversy over stopping his show at Toronto's Budweiser Stage. Plus, stories about OVG and Universal Music Group are making music industry headlines internationally.

Read about those stories and more in this week's roundup of music biz headlines.


Canadian Music Biz Headlines

Scooter Braun Shares His Opinion on Justin Bieber’s ‘Swag’

Bieber's former manager weighed in on the surprise new album, terming it the pop star’s most genuine work to date. – Ashley

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Musician Matthew Good Cancels Upcoming U.S. Tour Dates Due to Trump Administration

“Every week that goes by, I have a deeper disdain for what’s going on there politically,” he said in a Facebook post. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

Negative Stories About Rogers Stadium are ‘Branding Poison’ for the Sponsor, Marketers Say

As a marketing expert, Markus Giesler was aghast after hearing Coldplay frontman Chris Martin blast Toronto’s brand new Rogers Stadium onstage. – Nicole Thompson, Canadian Press

Coldplay’s Chris Martin Says He 'Never Crticized' Rogers Stadium at Third Toronto Show

‘I have never criticized this stadium," he stated. The lead singer made previous comments about the new venue’s location, calling it a “weird stadium in the middle of nowhere." – Toronto Star

Canadian Government 'Urged' by Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs to Deny Bob Vylan and Kneecap From Entering Canada

Immigration Minister Lina Diab says that, due to privacy legislation, the government is unable to comment on whether the British or Irish act will be barred from performing. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

Russ Addresses Onstage Incident at Toronto Concert: 'I Refuse to Be Gaslit'

The Atlanta rapper called out someone trying to get his attention from the crowd at Budweiser Stage on Saturday night. Now, he's facing backlash from some Indigenous fans for refusing a gift of a beaded medallion. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada

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Quebec Bids Farewell to Singer Serge Fiori During National Funeral in Montreal

Thousands of people gathered at Montreal’s Place des Arts on Tuesday for the national funeral of legendary singer-songwriter Serge Fiori. – Canadian Press

Serge Fiori, Singer of Quebec’s Harmonium, was an Uncompromising Visionary and Towering Cultural Icon

Montreal-based progressive folk-rockers Harmonium were superstars in Quebec in the second half of the 1970s and a rare band from the province to achieve recognition in the U.S. chief songwriter and lead singer Serge Fiori refused to re-record their songs in English.– Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Shania Twain Makes History With ‘Highest-Grossing’ Show in Calgary Stampede History

The iconic Canadian singer performed to a sold-out crowd during the annual country event and also served as the marshal for the opening parade. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

Paul McCartney Will Play the Opening Show at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum

The 2025 run of the British icon’s Got Back tour includes two Canadian stops in Hamilton and Montreal. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

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Vive la Hamilton: New Era for The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra

At 29, Paris-born James Kahane is the 10th music director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. He wants you to know that he finds Hamilton artistically inspiring and that classical musicians party more than you might think. –Jamie Tennant, Hamilton City Magazine

Rock the Park Went Longer and Younger and it Paid Off With 40,000 Fans

Five nights, 24 musical acts, 40,000 music fans and hours of entertainment. Cleanup is underway at Harris Park after the 21st annual Rock the Park in London, Ontario, concluded Saturday night. – Brent Lale, CTV

What to Pack For a Summer Concert

A practical outfit, following venue bag policies and being prepared for weather is essential. – Cassie Gill, Edmonton Journal

International Music Biz Headlines

European Commission Will Investigate UMG’s Plan to Buy Downtown: Report

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The proposed deal, under preliminary review, will be subjected to a months-long investigation by Europe's competition regulator, according to Reuters. – Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard

Alex Warren Responds to Drake’s Diss After Beating Him for Hot 100 No. 1

The singer's "Ordinary" blocked the rapper's "What Did I Miss?" from debuting in the top spot. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard

Tim Leiweke Indictment: How the ASM/Legends Merger Led to Charges Against the OVG CEO

The case against the executive grew out of emails the Department of Justice uncovered during its 10-month regulatory review of the merger. – Dave Brooks, Billboard

ARIA Chart Positions Project a 2025 Australian Artist Chart Disgrace

ARIA’s first six months of published music charts are projecting that Australian artist chart figures for 2025 will be a disaster. All that recent fluff about changing the chart formula looks like just ‘deck chairs being rearranged on the Titanic’ based on how Australian artists have performed on the ARIA chart so far in 2025. – Noise11

Singer Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Two Further Charges over London Nightclub Assault Case

Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown on Friday pleaded not guilty to two further charges related to the serious beating of a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023. – Associated Press

Jeff Lynne Cancels Final Live Show Over Health Concerns

Electric Light Orchestra frontman withdraws from BST Hyde Park festival owing to a ‘systemic infection.’ – Harry Taylor, The Guardian

Doja Cat, Tems, J Balvin & Coldplay Join Forces for Unifying FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show Performance

The international superstars put their global sounds on display as Chelsea took home the trophy with a dominant 3-0 win over PSG. – Michael Saponara, Billboard

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Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings
Courtesy Photo

Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings

Rock

Guess Who Is Coming Back? Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings Return Under With Their Classic Band Name

The recent settlement of a bitter dispute over ownership of the band's name allows its two legendary songwriters to now perform as The Guess Who, and they have announced their first live dates.

Guess Who is returning? For the first time in over twenty years, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, the principal songwriters of that legendary Winnipeg rock band, will be performing together as The Guess Who.

It has just been announced that on January 31, 2026, the Guess Who will take to the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario, with more shows to be announced soon. Tickets are on sale now HERE.

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