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
Also this week: k.d. lang honoured by a star-studded Canadian lineup in Ottawa, Angine de Poitrine makes Primavera Sound Barcelona lineup and more.
It's a busy week for music news headlines this week, as major American stars Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan and Hayley Williams all made noise by using their voices to speak about world issues. Canadian viral star bbno$ added his voice, organizing a fundraiser concert for Palestine at the Shrine in L.A. Meanwhile, the future of Rolling Stones touring seems to be in doubt.
Read these stories and many more in this week's collection of music news headlines.
The Vancouver artist has curated a lineup of artists including 6arelyHuman, Ellise, Joost, Sophie Powers and more to perform on Nov. 7 at The Shrine. All proceeds will go to The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. — Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Drake 'In the Conversation' to Headline Coachella in 2027, According to Rumours
HitsDailyDouble reports that the superstar rapper could be headlining the major two-week festival in 2027, the same year he's set to embark on a world tour. — Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
'Anthem For our Fans': Edmonton Oilers Tap Local Rockers Royal Tusk for New Goal Song
The Edmonton rock trio worked closely with the Oilers' entertainment team to create "Striking Oil," a new goal song that has debuted. — Dave Breakenridge, Edmonton Journal
Drake, Jessie Reyez, Peter Peter, Jade LeMac to Receive 2026 SOCAN Special Achievement Awards
A selection of Canada’s rising and established songwriters, composers and music publishers will be honoured on Oct. 26 at REBEL in Toronto. — Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Drake Reportedly Did Not Submit 'Iceman,' 'Maid of Honour' or 'Habibti' to the 2027 Grammy Awards
Billboard reports that Drake has not submitted Iceman, Maid of Honour or Habibti, nor any of their songs for consideration at the upcoming 2027 Grammy Awards. Drake has not submitted any of his solo albums since withdrawing his Certified Lover Boy nods in 2021. — Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Michael Bublé, Allison Russell, Jann Arden Honour k.d. lang at National Arts Centre in Ottawa
The Alberta-born singer received additional tributes from Jill Barber, Jane Siberry, William Prince, Ron Sexsmith and more on Oct. 2. — Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
South Asian Music Accelerator Announces 2026 Cohort
Now in its second year, ArtHaus's South Asian Music Accelerator program will take place in Toronto later this month, helping South Asian artists, songwriters and producers build sustainable careers. — Kerry Doole, Billboard Canada
Simple Plan to Go On Their First Cross-Canada Tour in Over a Decade
Marking their first headlining Canadian tour in 10 years, the Montreal rock band are set to play 15 shows across Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Halifax and more in 2027. — Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
The 2.0 version of the fun-filled web series finds the K-pop superstars in a super playful mood. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard Canada
Late Sass Jordan Brought Sharp Ears, Honesty to ‘Canadian Idol,’ Colleagues Remember
When Ryan Malcolm first met Sass Jordan, he was a jittery 23-year-old singer auditioning for an unproven new reality television show. — Alex Nino Gheciu,Canadian Press
Indie Folk Star Phoebe Bridgers Dazzles with Melancholy in Toronto
The folk-pop It Girl’s phone-free show delivered craft mellowness and sincerity to an arena-sized crowd whose phones were locked in Yondr pouches. — Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Justin Bieber's 'Daisies' Earns More Than a Billion Streams on Spotify
With 23 songs counting over one billion streams each, Bieber ties Rihanna as the artist with the fifth most Billions Club entries in Spotify history. — Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Toronto’s Kardinal Offishall on Frank New Album: ‘Every Day We Are Alive is a Victory’
‘Firestarter, Vol. 2’ features guest spots by Black Thought and Idris Elba. — Del Cowie, Toronto Star
A $25,000 Motown Advance Broke up Neil Young’s Toronto Band. Then He Headed to L.A. in a Hearse
An excerpt from the new book “Yorkville: How a 1960s Coffeehouse Scene Rewrote Popular Music.” Mike Daley, Toronto Star
The Canadian Opera Company’s New Leader Has Wagnerian Plans — Including a Digital Transformation
Ian Derrer, who joins the COC from the Dallas Opera, is taking the helm of one of Canada's largest cultural institutions at a crucial moment. — Joshua Chong, Toronto Star
The funk band’s cross-generational 1978 hit arrives at No. 49 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. Plus: U.K. indie band bôa is the latest act to experience a major resurgence with 1998’s “Duvet,” largely thanks to TikTok. — Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Hayley Williams Has a Blunt Message for DHS After ‘F–k ICE’ Concert Remark
The Paramore frontwoman isn’t backing down on her beliefs. She responded after the Department of Homeland Security weighed in on her recent onstage comments. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard
Olivia Rodrigo Says ‘Shame on Cornell’ Amid Fraternity Rape Lawsuit: ‘I Stand With Jane Doe’
The singer condemned the university and "every institution who protects rapists and abusers over women." — Hannah Dailey, Billboard
Zach Bryan Wears ‘Free Palestine’ Shirt at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium
It comes after Macklemore was dropped from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour over the rapper's pro-Palestinian statements. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard
Chartbreaker: Why ‘Everybody Wants To Root For’ ADÉLA
With "Ain't in LA," the singer-songwriter started living out her dreams — then followed it up with an even bigger smash. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard
Ronnie Wood Talks New Jimi Hendrix exhibition and Hopes of Rolling Stones Tour
As he unveiled his collection at Hendrix's former apartment, Wood told NME about the unseen side of the late rock icon, wanting to return to Glastonbury with the Stones at "the drop of a hat", and if all hope is lost for a Faces reunion. — Liberty Dunworth, NME
Next year's 25th anniversary edition will take place June 2-6 in Parc Del Fòrum. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard
The two appeared (separately) on stage on the same day the antitrust settlement was officially approved. — Lucas Manfredi, The Wrap
AI Is Reshaping the Music Industry, But Leaving Live Events Behind: Opinion
While AI investment transform recorded music, its greatest untapped potential lies in helping live event pros manage bookings, payments, and workflows. — Ben Ikwuagwu, Soundcheck Live
The share of the world’s ‘Superstar’ artists who hail from the United States has fallen from 45.1% to 33.1% since 2021. The UK‘s share dropped from 10.6% to 7.6%. Added together, the two markets accounted for 40.7% of that tier in 2026, down from 55.7% five years earlier. — Tim Ingham, Music Business Worldwide
Sony Music Steps Up Fight Against Streaming Fraud
By the end of September, Sony Music had asked digital platforms to take down more than 260,000 AI-generated tracks impersonating artists inlcuding Adele and Michael Jackson. — Financial Times
How Much is Being Close to Your Favorite Artist Worth? Superfans are Reshaping the Concert Industry
Some admit to spending thousands of dollars for barricade spots and other VIP perks at concerts, which is becoming more common. — Rosalind Adams, The Guardian
Hot on the Heels of Oasis Mania, Manchester is Having its Biggest Music Year in a Generation
There is something here for all music fans, including big new venues and intimate, relaxed spaces. — Toronto Star
Phil Collins Says He “Kissed and Made Up” with Paul McCartney After Decades-long Feud
The pair have been beefing since 2001 after the former Genesis member's request for McCartney to sign his Beatles book went awry. — Laura Molloy, Paste
