Music Biz Headlines: How Gord Downie Rejected An Offer to Be a Hologram
Other stories this week: Jessie Reyez links up with Lil Wayne, indie artists on TikTok, Geddy Lee on baseball, and the Oasis reunion.
Gord Downie Rejected Offer To Become a Hologram in His Final Years, Bandmates Say
The Tragically Hip frontman wasn’t interested in ever becoming a hologram musician. – David Friend, Canadian Press
In a blast from the past for dad-rock enthusiasts everywhere, Bachman-Turner Overdrive played a landmark show at the Pacific Coliseum on August 20 — 50 years since first striding onto the PNE stage. – V. S. Wells, Georgia Straight
Jessie Reyez Gets Lil Wayne for New Song 'RIDIN'
The Canadian singer earlier teased the collab with local billboards with the words "heard a Toronto shordie got 1 wit Tunechi." – Rosie Long Decter, Billboard Canada
Nova Scotia’s Andy Hines Lands J Balvin for Fiilm Adaptation of his Own Music Video
Grammy-nominated Canadian music video creator Andy Hines says he hopes his feature film directorial debut could be the first of several music videos adapted into big-screen stories. – David Friend, CP
Mutek Festival Celebrated 25 years of Under-the-radar Electronic Music and Digital Art
Highlights of Mutek this year included Film Scores For No One: A Patrick Watson Project, at New City Gas. – T'Cha Dunlevy, Montreal Gazette
Remembering My Special Friend, Boris Brott
He would be so proud that his entire family and his legacy are continuing to make Hamilton music the best in Canada. – Wendell Wilks, Hamilton Spectator
Pop punk and Emo Legends Return to the Forefront at Inaugural All Your Friends Fest
Fuelled by nostalgia and community, thousands showed up for the Oro-Medonte, Ont., festival headlined by by Billy Talent and Fall Out Boy. – Sima Shakeri,Toronto Star
Five Things to Know About Saskatoon Folkfest 2024
The beloved summer festival has been bringing cultural celebrations and international flair to Saskatoon for 45 years. – Julia Peterson, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Canadian Rock Legend Geddy Lee Talks Blue Jays, All Things Baseball and More
This week in Deep Left Field, we are joined by honest-to-goodness Canadian rock royalty. – Mike Wilner, Toronto Star
International
Over Half of TikTok’s Biggest Global Tracks of the Summer are Independently Distributed
The onward march of the ‘middle class’ of indie artists has been one of the music industry’s biggest talking points this year. – Murray Stassen, Music Business Worldwide
Hollywood Finally Admitted Cable TV Is Dying: What Happens Next? | Analysis
As Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and more face the reality of linear’s demise, the final chapter kicks off with a cable provider standoff. – Kayla Cobb and Jose Alejandro Bastidas, The Wrap
Oasis Is Reuniting For 2025 Tour
In a development that, for a decade or more bordered on fantasy, Oasis has confirmed a tour in 2025. – Lars Brandle, Billboard
Will.i.am Launches AI-Powered Raidio.FYI That Turns Radio Into Interactive Experience
Music star and tech innovator will.i.am has unveiled a new platform that reimagines radio for the digital age, injecting artificial intelligence into the traditional radio format. – Mandy Dalugdug, MBW
Pink, Mindy Kaling but No Beyoncé: The Celebrities Who Ruled the DNC
The DNC saw a host of older big pop-culture names show support for Kamala Harris with one notable absence. – Jesse Hallenger, The Guardian
Taylor Swift Says Vienna Terrorist Threat ‘Filled Me With a New Sense of Fear’
"But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” the pop star says. – The Wrap
How Podcasters Took Over Music Festivals
Famous for unhinged debauchery, this weekend Reading and Leeds festivals will see the debut of the Aux, a stage dedicated solely to podcasts. So is chatting the new rock’n’roll? – The Guardian
Foo Fighters To Donate Proceeds From Unauthorised Trump Song Usage To Harris/Walz Campaign
Foo Fighters have distanced themselves from the unauthorised use of their song ‘My Hero’ at a Trump rally last week and have taken moves to receive a performance payment which they will donate in full to the Kamala Harris election campaign. – Noise11
The ’80s Hair Metal Era Paramount+ Documentary Officially Has a Release Date
'Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of '80s Hair Metal' is scheduled to premiere on the streaming platform on September 17. – Rania Aniftos, Billboard
At Mexico’s Hera Music Festival, Women were both at the Forefront and Behind the Scenes
Mexico City’s Hera HSBC music festival brought together an all-female lineup of both Latina and international talent, including Kesha, Demi Lovato and Camila Cabello. Fronted and organized by women, the festival drew more than 48,000 people to the capital’s race track. – Mariana Barba, Associated Press
