The FYI News Bulletin

By David Farrell

A small and exclusive number of Canadians are named in this year’s 2021 International Power Players List compiled annually by Billboard magazine. Included: The Weeknd’s power management trio of Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, Amir “Cash” Esmailian and La Mar C. Taylor, Canadian web services and direct-to-fan e-commerce platform Bandzoogle CEO Stacey Bedford, and Hipgnosis Song Fund CEO Merck Mercuriadis. Additionally, eOne, helmed by Global president Chris Taylor, makes the influential ranking for the fifth consecutive year.

– Trixstar is launching Canada's first “dedicated socially distanced concert venue” with the Together Again Outdoor Concert Series at Racetrack Infield on the Edmonton Exhibition Lands. The series, opening Aug. 6, features Blue Rodeo, Dean Brody, Our Lady Peace, Five Alarm Funk, Serena Ryder, The Trews, 54-40, Alan Doyle, I Mother Earth, The Road Hammers, Bif Naked, The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Jerry Cans, and Jess Moskaluke.

Enhanced safety measures include limited capacities to ensure social distancing, with reserved seating and food & beverage services ordered from smart devices delivered to tables, contact tracing, and mandatory masks are all part of the package, according to a Trixstar press release.

– Everyone from The Boss to Judas Priest, Harry Connick Jr. to King Crimson, Alanis Morissette and The Monkees have announced upcoming tours in the past several weeks. Pollstar has an interactive search feature for your favourite bands’ upcoming shows here.

– The Black Academy, co-founded by Canadian thespian brothers Stephan James and Shamier Anderson, will host Canada's first Black award show, to be telecast live on CBC TV and CBC Gem, and already confirmed to run to 2025. The award show will feature presentations, performances, and tributes to Black cultural producers from Canada.

– US vinyl sales increased by 46% in 2020, but in Canada, MRC reported a 12.9% decline over 2019 sales figures. There's been a big bounce back in 2021, however. MRC data shows that in the first 22 weeks this year, vinyl sales are up 57% over the same period in 2020.

– Fresh off his fifth career Juno Award win (Adult Alternative Album of the Year), Bahamas (Afie Jurvanen) has announced a Dec. 1 headlining show at the 3,191-capacity Meridian Hall (formerly Sony Centre and often referred to as O’Keefe Centre) in Toronto. He’s plugging his fifth album, Sad Hunk. The Live Nation show has tickets scaled between $69.50 and $29.50 (plus service charges).