By David Farrell
You read that right!
There will be no newsletter released next Monday, Wednesday or Friday as the FYI team is taking a break to kick-back and enjoy a holiday break. We promise to return refreshed and ready to roll up our sleeves and get back to the business of the day on Monday, July 15. Until then, happy trails.
Cheers – Team FYI
Orville Peck
Also this week: BTS won't submit for the Grammys, Ariana Grande chooses Montreal over Toronto and more of the week's biggest headlines.
Enigmatic masked country star Orville Peck has opened up about a past attempt at suicide and his imminent new album.
Also this week, Glen Hansard's tragic death, a Taylor Swift ticket scam, a motion to make Sneaky Dee's a heritage site and more.
Read these stories and more in our weekly roundup.
Tate McRae Teases New Era Ahead of Osheaga Headline Performance
The Canadian pop star debuted a new visual identity and photoshoot with posts on social media and posters in Chicago, ahead of her major headline performances at Osheaga in Montreal on Saturday (Aug. 1) and Lollapalooza in Chicago on Sunday (Aug. 2). –Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Orville Peck Opens Up About Suicide Attempt Before Canceling 2023 Tour
The snger says ''it was a big turning point for me.'' The experience inspired the masked country singer's upcoming album, Mule. – Mitchell Peters, Billboard Canada
Denise Tisor and David Blake sold fake tickets to fans for the pop star’s six-day Eras Tour stint in Toronto in November 2024, which resulted in over 100 victims being defrauded. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts Finds Home in Hamilton
After moving from New York City, frontman forms connections in the city, including performing at a Rotary charity concert with his band. – Jeff Mahoney, Hamilton Spectator
Carole Pope Documentary Celebrates a Canadian Queer Icon
Pope and Rough Trade, the rock band she fronted, have become household names thanks to a string of hits in the eighties, and other successes. – Peter Crighton, Globe and Mail
On the cultural radio segment Le Québec maintenant, the singer told journalist Henry Arnaud that she chose Montreal over Toronto as it is one of her favourite cities. During the first of her three Canadian concerts at Centre Bell last night (July 28), she debuted her upcoming single "Petal" live. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Toronto City Councillor Presents a Motion to Protect Sneaky Dee’s From Future Redevelopment
A few weeks after it was saved from closing, University-Rosedale councillor Dianne Saxe’s proposal would grant heritage status to the long-running Tex Mex bar and concert venue. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
AC/DC Announces Vancouver Pop-ups Ahead of PWR/UP Stop at BC Place
AC/DC has announced a pop-up ahead of the band’s August 13 stand at BC Place. Commodore Ballroom will host the band’s merch extravaganza on August 12-13, with items up for grabs ranging from T-shirts, hoodies and concert posters to drink cups, ball caps, and toques. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
More ‘Sweet,’ Less Bitter as Oshawa Gives Proper Send-off to Music Scene’s Biggest Booster
The community came out this month to thank a true community builder in downtown Oshawa and say goodbye, though the object of all that affection, Will McGuirk of Kop's Records, insisted he’s not going anywhere. – Glenn Hendry, InSuaga
BTS Will Not Enter ‘Arirang’ Songs for Consideration at 2027 Grammy Awards
The news comes just over a month after the introduction of the best Asian pop music performance category. – Paul Grein, Billboard
For Taylor Swift, Madison Square Garden’s Controversial Cameras Briefly Went Dark
MSG’s sprawling surveillance system can monitor guests down to the second. Its owners made an exception for the pop star’s rehearsal dinner. – Wired
Williams sang Rilo Kiley's "Silver Lining" with Lewis and Bleachers' "I Wanna Get Better" with Antonoff during her set in Newport, R.I. – Ashley Iasimone, Billboard
Universal Music Group Completes €500 Million Share Buyback Program
The company has now spent EUR €499.2 million (approx USD $568M) buying back 26,707,529 of its own shares since the program began in April. UMG announced on July 27. Universal said it had repurchased a further 634,455 shares in the program’s final week, from July 20 to July 24, at an average price of €18.14 each. – Music Business Worldwide
Glen Hansard, Oscar-Winning ‘Once’ Singer-Songwriter Dies in Motorcycle Crash at 56
The solo star and leader of the Irish group the Frames was killed in the accident near his home in Dublin. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
As they release their first album in 16 years, the Vini Reilly-fronted band answer your questions on sandpaper record sleeves, having Harry Styles as a fan and inventing a new style of guitar music.– The Guardian
Carly Simon Reveals Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis: ‘I Am Still Very Much Here’
The legendary singer also told fans that she was treated for basal cell carcinoma on her face and that she's recorded a new album, Comes in Waves. – Gil Kaufman, Billboard
What’s Next for D4vd in the Celeste Rivas Hernandez Murder Case?
A judge determined that prosecutors can move forward with charges against the "Romantic Homicide" singer. But the case is far from over. – Rachel Scharf, Billboard
The group will head Down Under for their first live shows in a decade, alongside System of A Down. – Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork
