By David Farrell
Montreal firm Neweb Labs is selling affordable hologram packages. From the company’s sell sheet: “Boring speeches and old-fashioned videos are a thing of the past! With holograms, enter emotion, modernity and virtual worlds. Today, to make your mark, experience is at the heart of communication. Surprise your public with a hologram and make it live a memorable moment.”
– The all-star team of Gary Slaight, Michael Cohl and Michael Hollett are reportedly already in the black with their Next magazine venture that Hollett conceived and holds the dual titles of editor and publisher. The gloss, free monthly entertainment youth mag is chock-full of blue chip 4-colour ads and co-promotions, and has now struck a deal with Star Cineplex to provide content for the cinema chain’s in-house publication. – Those with long memories and collections purchased at chain record stores here in Canada will remember Robin Ram who held a variety of posts with A&A, Pindoff, and Madacy. He joined Vista Radio in sales in 2014 and has just been named GM and Sales Manager for the broadcaster’s Vancouver Island and BC Coast operations.
– Media and tech analyst Mark Mulligan offers some interesting observations about the growth of streaming revenue for the labels on his Music Industry Blog that ties in nicely with analysis published by Music Business Worldwide that reports Q2 earnings for UMG, Sony Music Group and Warner Music are generating as much as US$2.5M every hour. Yes, every hour. MBW suggests that the big three are in line to earn more than $20B between them this year. Using the 10% rule, this means the same trio in Canada is earning as much as $250K daily.
– There’s been a mess of Live Nation news headlines in recent weeks. First was the entertainment firm’s Q2 earnings report showing growth of US$450M in its operating income and the confident expectation voiced by company CEO Michael Rapino that he anticipates over 6M fans will attend its festivals during the second half of 2021. His implacable confidence no doubt helped Goldman Sach to give the stock a buy rating with a price target of US$110. The stock currently trades over $83 a share.
Wisely avoiding an unwinnable war with touring acts, Variety reports Rapino is leaving it to the acts to mandate proof of vaccinations or a negative Covid test for entry to shows, effective Oct. 4 and mandating that all employees in the US must be vaccinated to enter events, venues and LM offices.
Uncertainty and flare-ups of the virus have led to a long list of cancellations and postponements, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival that annually attracts more than a half-million tourist. Here in Canada, border closures and quarantine regs have made it necessary for James Taylor's concerts in Canada to be postponed-again, with the new dates TBA. Same again with Celine Dion. The flip side has Michael Bublé postponing US shows in August to October, as well as shows featuring Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman.
But not all foreign visitor shows are postponed. As it stands, My Chemical Romance, Gary Numan, Buddy Guy, John Legend and others are set to make appearances in outdoor venues or showrooms, including the Commodore Ballroom and Phoenix Concert Hall. Later in the year, Gordon Lightfoot reopens the rejuvenated Massey Hall complex, and Live Nation opens its new 2,700-capacity History nightclub in Toronto’s beaches east. Just opened is Pickering Casino Resort, joining similar operations now open in Windsor, Ajax, and Niagara. For an insider summary about live in the US, Hits Daily Double's Stage Whispers is rich with detail.
Amusements
The Doobie Brothers have released four tracks from Liberte, the band’s first new album in 7 years that has its release on Oct. 1. Here's Don't Ya Mess With Me from the new album.
From the album Villa Freud by Tim Thorney (Thorniac Records). Video by Kim Zayac
