Music Biz Headlines: Drake Sues UMG & Spotify, The End Of Tokyo Police Club
Other topics making headlines this week include, inevitably, Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes' comeback, Vancouver music history and more.
Drake is never far from the headlines. This week, he's all over music news with his provocative lawsuits against Universal Music Group and Spotify, accusing them of conspiring to boost his arch-rival Kendrick Lamar, plus his just-announced multiple nominations for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards and word of a tour Down Under.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has now exited Toronto, but mass press coverage of her Eras tour continues apace. We look at these topics and much more in our weekly roundup.
Canadian Music News Headlines
Drake Accuses UMG & Spotify of Scheme to ‘Artificially Inflate’ Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us'
In a legal petition, the star's company accuses UMG and Spotify of serious wrongdoing -- a stunning twist months after his high-profile feud with Kendrick. – Billboard
Drake Files Second Action Against UMG, Alleging Defamation Over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘False’ Song
The new filing, which claims UMG potentially "funneled payments" to iHeartRadio as part of a "pay-to-play scheme," sheds new light on the blockbuster dispute. – Billboard
Experts Weight In on Drake's Legal Filings Against UMG: 'This Gets Nowhere Near Trial'
According to one entertainment lawyer, there’s not much “meat on the bone” with Drake’s recent filings against UMG. – Andre Gee, Rolling Stone
Drake Confirms Australia ‘Anita Max Wynn’ 2025 Tour
The Canadian rapper is returning to Australia for his Anita Max Wynn Tour, marking his first visit to the country in eight years. – Billboard
Jonathan Simkin Sets Out To Right Some Historical Vancouver Music Scene Wrongs with 604 Decades
Vancouver music obsessive Jonathan Simkin readily agrees there has been no shortage of injustices over the decades. That’s the motivator for 604 Decades, a new endeavour that aims to introduce Vancouver bands that never got their due to new generations. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
The band from Newmarket, Ont., ends its almost 20-year tenure with four shows in Toronto this week. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Concert Ticket Scams are Rampant. Here’s How to Avoid Falling For One
Taylor Swift fans have been hit especially hard by ticketing scams because of the sheer scale of demand to see her concerts in Toronto. Now, it turns out hundreds of eager Swifties have individually lost between $2,000 and $16,000 to ticket scams last week alone. – Globe & Mail
The Eras Tour Hangover: Now that Taylor Swift has Left, has Toronto Lost Some of its Sparkle?
The Eras Tour has moved on to its final stop in Vancouver. For some fans, it leaves disappointment behind. – Mark Colley, Toronto Star
The First Taylor Swift Course is Launching at the University of Guelph and Demand is Exploding
Icons of Popular Music, a new online-only course centered on Taylor Swift, is open to everyone and will launch in the new year. – Toronto Star
On Abracadabra, Klô Pelgag Proves She Still Has The Magic
Klô Pelgag opens up about her doubts, anxiety, joy of performing, and her admiration for Turkish singer Gülden Karaböcek. – Marie-Lise Rousseau, Rolling Stone Quebec
International
Drake has 8 more nods, adding to his huge tally. The show is set to air on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Fox and Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+. See the full noms list here. – Paul Grein, Billboard
Today, more people are gravitating toward this music and its ability to boost concentration—no question that it’s going mainstream. Focus music can be defined as anything that helps you pay attention, reduce distractions, and maintain productivity. – Lauren Pufpaf, Fast Comp
Social media trends come and go, but it has been a while since an existing social media platform (Bluesky) has encouraged so many users to jump ship and abandon their current social media habits. Such moves warrant the attention of the PR and communication industry. – Nicole Schuman, PRNewsOnline
Microsoft at 50: An AI Giant. A Kinder Culture. And Still Hellbent on Domination
When Satya Nadella took over as CEO, the company was lumbering and uncool. He cleaned up a toxic culture, crafted the deal of the decade, and put Microsoft back on top. – Steven Levy, Wired
Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen Are Big Winners at CMA Awards
Chris Stapleton took home four Country Music Association Awards and hardly left the stage on Wednesday night, while an absent Morgan Wallen was shut out all evening until taking the night’s biggest prize, entertainer of the year. – Andrew Dalton, Associated Press
Charli XCX To Host Her Own Music Festival
Charli XCX has announced that she will curate and headline her own Party Girl festival at London’s LIDO festival next year. The event will take place on 14 June and will feature performances from the likes of Bladee, the Japanese House, the Dare, 070 Shake, Kelly Lee Owens, A. G. Cook and Charli herself. – Noise11
Rebel Musix, Scribe on a Vibe by Vivien Goldman Review – Hanging With Punks and Rastas
From Bob Marley embracing the Clash to Brian Eno hurling his phone against a wall, this wide-ranging collection of music writing evokes an era in which journalists and musicians existed side by side. – Miranda Sawyer, The Guardian
