Music Biz Headlines: Ed Sheeran’s Tour is a PR Disaster, Canadian Artists Protest Alberta Separation Vote
Also this week: An old Neil Young song is revived, Nickelback and Blond:Ish earn American chart milestones, Celine Dion's comeback continues and more.
Ed Sheeran
Three hot topics from recent weeks remain in the headlines.
Ed Sheeran attempts to clarify his position on Gaza in the wake of Macklemore's firing, Celine Dion continues to shine in her comeback residency in Paris and the late Dolly Parton receives a posthumous honour as an inevitable controversy over her estate flares up.
Elsewhere, some major Albertan stars unite to fight separation and Abel Tesfaye retains his persona as The Weeknd.
Read these stories and more in this week's music news and business headlines.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines
bbno$ Wants to ‘Throw a Massive Charity Concert’ to Raise Money for Palestine
The Vancouver artist is showing support for the country after rapper Macklemore was fired from Ed Sheeran’s world tour for his “Free Palestine” comments, one of many responses from Canadian artists. — Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Jann Arden, Lindi Ortega and More Protest Alberta Separation Vote at Calgary Concert
In favour of keeping the Western Canadian province as a part of the country, they were joined by other Alberta acts including Celeigh Cardinal, Kue Varo and The Only Hopes, Caity Gyorgy, Reuben Bullock and Montuno West. – Heather Taylor Singh, Billboard Canada
It's more like "hibernating" the "Starboy" singer says of setting aside the story he's been telling for the past six years. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
Céline Dion Hops Atop a Car to Sing With Crowd of Fans in Paris
Dion felt the power of love from fans (and they felt it from her) in a heartwarming moment after night three of her Paris concert residency. – Ashley Iasimone, Billboard
Cameron Whitcomb on Success, Sobriety and the Fan Letter He Keeps in His Wallet
The moment Cameron Whitcomb realized he needed to make it big in country music came on the side of a B.C. highway — while answering the call of nature. – Aaron Sousa, Canadian Press
You Can Make It Happen:' Blues Great Colin James Hopes Memoir can Inspire Young Musicians
In 1977, Colin Munn’s mother took him on a bus trip throughout western Canada and into the United States. He was still Colin Munn from Regina at the time, a somewhat boisterous seventh-grader who had already started showing promise as a musician. – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald
Neil Young Re-Records 1964 Song “I’ll Love You Forever” For New Album Second Song
Neil Young has revisited a love song he wrote and recorded as a teenager with The Squires, cutting a new version with the Chrome Hearts more than six decades after the original session. – Paul Cashmere, Noise11
The tribute to the prog rock band's late drummer is slated to go up in Lakeside Park in St. Catharines, near the spot where Peart spent his early years. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard
Finding Light in the Darkness: Dead Tired’s George Pettit on Balancing Heavy Music with Hope
For George Pettit, lead singer of Hamilton band Dead Tired, heavy music can function as a vehicle of sorts. It allows him to traverse the darker corners of his psyche and make sense of the world around him, he explains. The group's fourth full-length album was released in August. – Andrew Baulcomb, Hamilton Spectator
How Carly Rae Jepsen’s Cult Classic ‘Emotion’ Inspired Her New Album, ‘Day and Night’
Released in 2015, the Canadian pop artist’s third album developed a cult following that has lasted over a decade — and had an impact on Jepsen’s new album. — Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Hey Rosetta! Reunite After Nine-Year Hiatus
The Newfoundland indie band have reunited for the first time since going on an indefinite hiatus in 2017 to play a series of comeback shows in Canada, including a homecoming stop in St. John's, plus Toronto and Montreal. — Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
In a time of cross-border tension, the Buffalo Bills have won fans by including "O Canada" in the pre-game ceremony at their brand new Highmark Stadium on Sept. 17 even though there were no Canadian teams playing. — Kerry Doole, Billboard Canada
Blond:ish Earns Her First Billboard No. 1 With ‘Lovers on the Dancefloor’
The Canadian DJ/producer's track, featuring Kurtis Wells, leads the Dance Airplay chart. — Xander Zellner, Billboard
Nickelback Earns First U.S. Radio No. 1 in More Than a Decade With ‘Rattle the Cage’
The single with John 5 becomes the band's ninth Mainstream Rock Airplay leader. — Xander Zellner, Billboard
International Music Biz Headlines
Ed Sheeran Addresses Controversy at First Show Since Openers, Backing Band Dropped Off Tour
Before his show in Philadelphia, Sheeran read a statement acknowledging the issue of Israel and Palestine, but still tried to keep things neutral. He called it ''the best show of my life.''– Billboard
Crisis communications experts weighed in how the superstar musician should’ve handled the controversy. – Roger Cheng and Tess Patton, The Wrap
Massive Attack, Garbage, and Roger Waters Call Out Ed Sheeran After Macklemore Tour Removal
"No artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist, however many millions of dollars are in play," wrote Massive Attack. – Consequence
Drake’s ‘Not Like Us’ Lawsuit Appeal Gets December Court Date for Battle With UMG
The case claims Drake's longtime label defamed him by releasing Kendrick Lamar's blockbuster diss track that called him a "certified pedophile." — Bill Donahue, Billboard
Billboard France Celebrates Its First Power Players Edition
On the occasion of this inaugural evening, the music industry professionals working in the French market were honoured. – Billboard
Neil Young Journeyed Through His Past and Raged Against War in First 2026 Show
Young’s first concert of the year included hits like “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man,” deep cuts, a brand new song, a duet with Willie Nelson, and a solemn rendition of 2006’s “Living With War." — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone
Taylor Swift to Be First Recipient of Artist Director Honours at 2026 MTV VMAs
The 2026 VMAs will air live from Los Angeles' Peacock Theater on Sept. 27. — Mitchell Peters, Billboard
Washington Won’t Be Regulating AI Anytime Soon
Even with mounting concerns about AI models going rogue, legislation appears unlikely, and the White House is outright opposed to oversight. – Hugo Lowell, Wired
Rob Jonas, CEO of Luminate, joins On the Record to break down nostalgia and catalog music listening—and why older songs are dominating more than ever in the streaming era. – Kristen Robinson, Billboard
Weeks After Death, Dolly Parton Posthumously Accepts Lifetime Achievement Award in Video Message
Parton was honored at Wednesday night's (Sept. 16) 2026 Americana Honors & Awards, where Brandi Carlile covered her classic song "Coat of Many Colors." – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
Dolly Parton Estate in Feud with Nephew Over Alleged ‘Warfare’ Threats
Bryan Seaver, who announced Parton’s death to the world, is alleged to have intimidated her manager and others, which he denies. – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian
Céline Dion, Keith Urban, Chris Martin Lead All-Star John Farnham Tribute Concert
The concert doubled as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of "You're the Voice," released in September 1986. – Jessica Lynch, Billboard
