Music Biz Headlines: Toronto's Swiftmania Heats Up, Joni Mitchell & Eminem Slam Trump
Also this week: controversy around the East Coast Music Awards, Coldplay's extra stadium shows in Toronto, and more news around the death of Liam Payne.
Eminem
Toronto is getting ready for its Taylor Swift Era, and stories of fake tickets are starting to emerge. Meanwhile, stories on the upcoming election and the death of Liam Payne continue to reverberate. Read about it in this week's Billboard Canada FYI roundup of music news and business headlines below:
Joni Mitchell Says ‘F–k Donald Trump’ During All-Star Jam at Hollywood Bowl: The 7 Best Moments
More like Both Sides WOW. – Joe Lynch, Billboard
How to Spot a Taylor Swift Ticket Scam as Fraud Reports Skyrocket
As Taylor Swift prepares to close out her Eras Tour era in Canada, fans desperate to see the pop star perform live are vulnerable to scams. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has received 140 reports of fraudulent Swift tickets this year. – Nicole Thompson, Canadian Press
Coldplay Adds Two Toronto concerts at Rogers Stadium Next Summer Due to ‘Spectacular Demand’
The English band will now play four shows in Toronto as part of the North American leg of their “Music of The Spheres” world tour. –Toronto Star
Atlantic Music Community Raises Concerns Over Changes at East Coast Music Awards
The head of the East Coast Music Association says she’s working to address concerns some in the local music community are raising over a slate of recent changes. – David Friend, Canadian Press
These are Halifax’s Best Songwriters of 2024
From ballads to all-out bangers, here are seven songwriters you nominated for our annual Best of Halifax Reader’s Choice Awards. – Brendyn Creamer, The Coast
Rapper Turned Saskatchewan NDP Candidate says Sorry for Lyrics Called Misogynistic
A former Saskatchewan rapper turned political candidate apologized Tuesday for lyrics that the incumbent Saskatchewan Party has criticized as misogynistic. – Aaron Sousa, CP
The 20 Best Canadian Albums of the 2020s So Far
Starting in the aughts and continuing into the 2010s, Canada was known for its indie rock boom. Now, our country's musical output is kaleidoscopic, its many scenes and sounds giving rise to underground eclectics and mainstream pop megastars. – Exclaim! Staff
New Winnipeg Music Venue Sidestage Set to Crank it Up
The much-anticipated new Osborne Street venue Sidestage opened its doors for its first show on Friday. It fills a void left by last year’s closure of the Good Will Social Club, a mainstay for the local music scene. – Conrad Sweatman, Winnipeg Free Press
Goth – and dark subculture in general – has re-emerged as a cultural force in music and fashion in Hamilton and beyond. –
Jamie Tennant, Hamilton City Magazine
International
Liam Payne Had ‘Pink Cocaine’ in his System at Time of Death – Reports
An official in Argentina, where the boy band star died last week, has spoken anonymously ahead of the final toxicology results being released. –The Guardian
Zayn Malik Postpones U.S. Tour After Death of One Direction Bandmate Liam Payne
Payne, 31, died last week after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. – Matt Brennan, LA Times
One Direction & Liam Payne Streams and Sales Surge After Star’s Death
Following Payne's Oct. 16 death in Buenos Aires, streams of One Direction's catalog bounded by 675%, while Payne's solo material grew 858%. Kevin Rutherford, Billboard
Eminem Throws His Support Behind Harris/Walz At Detroit Rally
The rap star joined the Kamala Harris / Tim Walz rally in Detroit Michigan to ask people to vote and then he introduced President Barack Obama. – Noise11
How Socially Conscious Music Artists and Superfans Will Vanquish Trump
The longstanding blending of diverse cultures in music epitomizes the understanding that collaboration across differences can lead to extraordinary results. This creative process reflects the potential for collaboration between musicians, social causes, brands and politicians. – Steven Love, Socially Driven Music
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Named in 7 New Lawsuits; Other Celebrities Allegedly Involved
Seven new civil lawsuits include two from accusers who say they were minors at the time they were allegedly drugged and assaulted by the music producer. For the first time, other unidentified celebrities are accused of participating in an alleged assault. – Elizabeth Wagmeister, CN
Subscription Dynamics in the Evolving Music Industry
According to Luminate music consumption data, the proportion of U.S.-based streaming from Premium subscriptions has grown over time, contributing to rising value with respect to downstream royalty payouts. – Jessica Woodby-Denema & John Murphy, Luminate Data
