Music Biz Headlines: Ed Sheeran Loses All Tour Openers After Macklemore Dropped for 'Free Palestine' Comments

Dominating the international headlines this week has been the ever-developing furore around Macklemore and the Ed Sheeran tour. The rapper's pro-Palestine onstage comments drew flak from the likes of Pink and led to him being axed from the Sheeran tour. In turn, Sheeran was heavily criticised for this move and his band and tour support acts quit.

Elsewhere, Celine Dion's keenly-anticipated return to the stage in Paris has reportedly been a huge success, reaffirming the adulation of her French audience.

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Check these and other stories grabbing headlines here.

Canadian Music Biz Headlines

Céline Dion Cries Happy Tears in Paris: 9 Best Moments From Opening Night of Her Return to Stage

Night one of Dion's long-awaited comeback, a 26-date residency in Paris, featured a tearful "On Ne Change Pas," an a cappella Everest and an opera aria under falling snow. – Ulysse Hennessy & Léa Menanteau, Billboard

Céline Dion’s Paris 2026 Setlist: Every Song Played at the First Show

The Canadian icon launched her 26-night Paris residency with a 29-song, two-and-a-half-hour comeback that moved from intimate French ballads to an a cappella "All by Myself." – Ulysse Hennessy and Léa Menanteau, Billboard

Celine Dion Fever Sweeps Paris Ahead of Residency

Canadian star entertains crowds outside hotel before shows begin Saturday. – Mathilde Augustin, Globe & Mail

Drake Previews Don Toliver & Ella Langley Collaborations During 'FOMO' Livestream

Drake's 'not so short film' features the full version of his and Toliver's R&B remix of Ella Langley's No. 1 hit "Choosin' Texas," plus several new music videos for tracks on Habibti and Maid of Honour. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada

‘I Thought I Would Lose my Career’: Orville Peck on Addiction and Creating His Best Album Yet

Though the masked country singer has a No 1 album and duets with superstars under his belt, his demons and mental health caught up to him. – Jason Lamphier, The Guardian

ADÉLA Manifests Her Billboard 200 Success at Sold-Out Montreal Show: Concert Recap

The rising Slovak star brought her debut headline tour to Montreal, manifesting a top-five Billboard 200 debut that came true days later.– Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada

Harry Styles Extends ‘Together, Together’ Tour With Huge 2027 Stadium Run: See the Toronto Dates

The tour's special guests range from Kylie Minogue and Tears For Fears to LCD Soundsystem. – Sophie Williams, Billboard

Angine de Poitrine Will Perform at the 2026 Polaris Music Prize Ceremony

The Quebec math rock aliens are nominated for both the Polaris Album Prize and the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize at this year's ceremony, which takes place at Toronto's Massey Hall on Sept. 22. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada

These Artists Are Speaking Out Against Donald Trump’s Executive Order to Rename Lake Ontario

From The Beaches and JoJo to Blue Rodeo and Bryan Adams, many acts are taking a stance on the U.S. president’s most recent executive order to rename the Canadian Great Lake. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

Justin Bieber Celebrates 8th Wedding Anniversary With Hailey Bieber: ‘New Beginnings’

The couple married in September 2018 and welcomed their son, Jack Blues Bieber, in August 2024. – Mitchell Peters, Billboard

Marco MacLeod Resigns as Energy Minister over Misogynistic Rap Lyrics

Houston to take over portfolio once more as MacLeod stays on as MLA. –CBC

Toronto's Hello Dolly's Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton

Inside Toronto’s newest country bar – a tribute to the late, great queen of country. – Joel Rodriguez, The Globe and Mail

International Music Biz Headlines

Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour Over His ‘Free Palestine’ Comments

The decision came after venues allegedly threatened to cancel tour dates with the rapper on the bill. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard

Ed Sheeran Says Decision to Drop Macklemore From Tour ‘Was Not Mine’: ‘I Have Spent This Week Trying to Build Bridges’

"It's important that I set out some facts," he captioned his post. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard

Robert Kraft Calls Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ Statements ‘Deeply Offensive’: ‘A Line Had Been Crossed’

The Gillette Stadium owner released a statement explaining why he helped lead the call for the rapper's removal from Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour. – Chris Eggertsen, Billboard

Ed Sheeran Has No Tour Openers Left After Finneas & Lukas Graham Drop Out Over Macklemore ‘Free Palestine’ Controversy

Backing band Beoga, which plays a mini set with Sheeran on tour, has also pulled out. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard

Noel Gallagher Reveals the Exact Moment Oasis Knew They Were Going to Tour Again in 2027

As for why they're hitting Boston and Las Vegas this time around, the guitarist/songwriter said they "meant" to hit them last time but just didn't. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard

MusiCares to Honor U2 as 2027 Persons of the Year at a Star-Studded Grammy-Weekend Gala

MusiCares will honor Irish superstars U2 as its Persons of the Year at a February gala kicking off Grammy Awards weekend. – Asssociated Press

Diljit Dosanjh Celebrates His Historic Show at London’s Wembley Stadium: ‘It’s Very Special’

Marking his largest European concert, Dosanjh became the first-ever Indian and Punjabi artist to headline the 90,000-capacity U.K. stadium on Sept. 12. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada

Why Are Serious Filmmakers Turning to Concerts?

Paul Thomas Anderson and Brady Corbet are bringing celluloid — and "serious" filmmaking — back to the concert film. But, why? – Jeremy Young, Hypebot

Rapper Lil Durk Acquitted of Murder-for-hire at Los Angeles Trial

A federal jury on Friday found rapper Lil Durk not guilty of the attempted killing for hire of rival rapper Quando Rondo at a Los Angeles gas station, a shooting that resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin. – Associated Press

The Butthole Surfers: A Freak fFlag Filn For the Hole Family

Tom Stern, the filmmaker behind the new Butthole Surfers documentary, premiering Monday at the Rio in Vancouver, has described the Texas–spawned agitators as "one of the most mind blowing live bands ever,'' –Allan MacInnis, Georgia Straight